Two Pilots Killed in Crash of Army Apache Helicopter in Texas
An AH-64 Apache helicopter from Fort Hood crashed into a field in Salado, central Texas, killing both crew members. Local authorities confirmed no one on the ground was injured.
An AH-64 Apache helicopter from Fort Hood crashed into a field in Salado, central Texas, killing both crew members. Local authorities confirmed no one on the ground was injured.
Two pilots were killed on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, when a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopter crashed into a field near Salado in central Texas, confirmed Cliff Coleman, a spokesman for the Bell County Sheriff's Office.
The helicopter from Fort Hood went down at approximately 1:35 p.m. local time, and both crew members died at the scene, according to reports from Kurir.rs citing wire services.
According to Coleman, the aircraft crashed into an open field and did not hit any structures or people on the ground. "It crashed into a field, and it was clear the impact was very violent," Coleman told Kurir.rs.
A large fire broke out after the crash, prompting an emergency response and the evacuation of local residents. Emergency services, military personnel, and police were at the scene.
Brigadier General Ethan Diven, acting commander of Fort Hood, confirmed that the helicopter was based there. "Our immediate priority is securing the crash site and supporting initial ground efforts," Diven said in a statement. "Our thoughts are with the crew members and their families as we await further information."
It is still unknown where the helicopter was coming from or where it was headed at the time of the crash.
The AH-64 Apache is an attack helicopter with a two-person crew: a pilot seated in the rear and a co-pilot/gunner in the front. The four-blade helicopter can carry 16 Hellfire missiles, 76 air-to-surface rockets, and 1,200 rounds for its 30mm cannon.
According to the U.S. Army, Apache helicopters have been continuously upgraded since their introduction in 1984 and are expected to remain in service until 2050. "It is highly maneuverable, lethal, and can destroy armored vehicles, personnel, and materiel targets in degraded visibility conditions on the battlefield, at ranges up to 8 kilometers," the Army states on its website, adding that the AH-64E has become the world's most advanced attack helicopter.
