Two dead after US Army Apache helicopter crashes in Texas
Two individuals have died following the crash of a US military helicopter in central Texas, local authorities have confirmed.
Emergency services rushed to fields south of Salado at approximately 1:33 p.m. local time after receiving emergency calls regarding a downed aircraft. Police discovered the wreckage of an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter engulfed in a rapidly spreading fire. Bell County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Cliff Coleman noted the blaze was escalating quickly upon their arrival. Both crew members were pronounced dead at the scene.
The twin-engine aircraft was stationed at Fort Hood, a prominent military installation situated nearby. According to the US Army, this four-bladed multi-mission helicopter seats two personnel: a pilot positioned in the rear and a co-pilot gunner at the front. The heavily armed chopper is routinely utilised for armed reconnaissance, mobile strikes and close combat operations. The US Army currently operates a fleet of 824 AH-64 Apache helicopters.
Investigation and recovery efforts
U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter belonging to the 1st Cavalry Division crashed in central Texas on Wednesday afternoon.
— Status-6 (War & Military News) (@Archer83Able) August 12, 2026
Its two crew-members have perished.
The cause of the crash is yet to become known. pic.twitter.com/LfhSZyf1Z8
The military has initiated a comprehensive inquiry into the fatal incident while emergency personnel remain on site to manage the aftermath. Brig. Gen. Ethan Diven, acting commanding general of the 1st Cavalry Division, stated that securing the area and assisting recovery efforts are their primary objectives.
This Texas tragedy follows another recent fatal aviation incident in the United States. Just days prior, two civilian pilots died when their Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane helicopter crashed while fighting the Widemouth 2 wildfire in Utah’s Fishlake National Forest. The pilots were contracted by the US Forest Service to drop water on the massive blaze.
Due to dangerous fire conditions, emergency crews were initially unable to reach the wreckage to recover the bodies. The National Transportation Safety Board is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding that separate crash.
