Two U.S. Army soldiers died when an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter crashed Wednesday in a military operation around central Texas during an operation tied to Fort Hood. Bell County, about 60 miles north of Austin, has since been on fire, and several local agencies are on the scene. A search for the cause of the crash is ongoing.
The Apache helicopter crashed in a field near Salado during what military officials said was an “ordinary training mission.” The impact caused a fire that spread rapidly through nearby grasslands, and plumes of smoke emerged from the area that could be seen from miles away. Emergency workers, as well as firefighters, law enforcement officials and military personnel rushed to the area to contain the fire and secure the crash site. No houses or other buildings were directly hit by the aircraft when it crashed.
The U.S. Army said the aircraft involved was an AH-64 Apache, one of the military's most advanced attack helicopters. The helicopter was attached to Fort Hood, one of the largest military installations in the United States and a major training centre for armoured and aviation units. Army officials said the identities of the deceased soldiers will not be disclosed until their families are notified.
The two occupants were pronounced dead at the scene by local authorities, said Bell County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Cliff Coleman. Images from the crash site showed burned terrain and burning debris, and emergency workers on site to preserve evidence. At least a dozen local fire departments were at the scene to help fight the fire, which spread quickly because of dry vegetation and weather conditions at the scene.
Military officials have not disclosed at this point what caused the helicopter crash. The investigation is led by the Criminal Investigation Division at Fort Hood with aviation safety experts at the centre of the investigation. Investigators will be investigating flight data, maintenance records, weather and pilot communications as part of the investigation into the cause of the crash, they said. There are still no official conclusions about mechanical failure, human error, or environmental effects of the crash.
Brigadier General Ethan Diven, acting commandant of the 1st Cavalry Division, expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers and said the Army’s top priority was to assist those affected. Texas Governor Greg Abbott also offered his thanks to all of the service members and prayers for their families.
The accident has once again raised the risk faced by military personnel in training. Military aviation safety standards are among the highest in the world, but training missions involving advanced aircraft are difficult. The Army will provide more details on the accident once the preliminary investigation is complete.
There is still a lot of loss for the two soldiers who lost their lives while serving their country. And their deaths are just a reminder to us all of the sacrifices that military members really make in peacetime and during training.
