BELL COUNTY, Texas: A military training flight ended in tragedy Wednesday when an AH-64 Apache helicopter crashed into a field near Fort Hood, killing the two soldiers aboard and igniting a grass fire that forced nearby residents to evacuate, officials said.
The crash occurred in Bell County, about 60 miles (100 kilometers) north of Austin, during Fort Hood operations, according to the Bell County Sheriff's Office. Spokesperson Cliff Coleman said a justice of the peace pronounced both soldiers dead at the scene.
A military official told The Associated Press that the Apache was conducting a routine training flight when it went down. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing.
Fort Hood confirmed that an AH-64 Apache had crashed and that two soldiers were killed. Their identities were being withheld until their families could be notified.
The crash sparked a large grass fire, bringing several local fire departments to the scene. Emergency crews worked to contain the flames as smoke rose from the wreckage and large sections of the field were left charred.
The fire also led to evacuations of several nearby homes, although Coleman said the helicopter did not hit any houses or other structures.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott confirmed the deaths in a post on X, saying the helicopter crashed during Fort Hood operations and that two members of the military were killed.
“Our immediate priority is securing the site and supporting the initial response efforts,” said Brig. Gen. Ethan Diven, acting commanding general at Fort Hood. “Our thoughts are with the crew and their families as we await further information.”
The cause of the crash was not immediately known. Coleman said Fort Hood’s Criminal Investigation Division was leading the investigation as authorities secured the site and began examining the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Fort Hood covers about 214,968 acres (86,994 hectares) and is one of the Army’s major installations for training and deploying heavy forces. The area around the base provides extensive terrain for military exercises.
The base has experienced other fatal training incidents. Four soldiers were killed in November 2015 when a Black Hawk helicopter crashed during a training exercise, while nine Fort Hood soldiers died in 2016 after their vehicle was swept away by a rain-swollen creek.
The AH-64 Apache has been a key part of the U.S. Army’s attack helicopter fleet since the first versions entered service in 1984. It carries a two-person crew, with the pilot seated behind the co-pilot and gunner.
