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Apache crash in Salado
A U.S. Army AH-64E Apache attack helicopter based at Fort Hood crashed in Salado, in central Texas, on Wednesday, killing two soldiers and sparking a grass fire, according to the U.S. Army and local authorities.
“Two soldiers are dead after a military helicopter crashed in Salado, Texas, on Wednesday”
The crash occurred in a field near Fort Hood, with the Bell County Sheriff's Office receiving a 911 call after 1:30 p.m. local time, and the two people onboard were pronounced dead on scene by a local justice of the peace.
ABC News reported the helicopter was an AH-64 U.S. Army Apache attack helicopter and said the two-seater aircraft was based at Fort Hood, while the BBC said officers responded to an emergency call at around 13:33 local time about wreckage in fields south of the village of Salado.
Firefighters and emergency responders worked as the blaze spread, with the Texas A&M Forest Service reporting the fire was about 100 acres and 45% contained by 5 p.m. local time, and local officials saying no buildings or structures were damaged.
The U.S. Army did not specify what the aircraft was doing at the time of the accident, and the cause was not released as authorities continued an investigation.
Officials, condolences, response
Brig. Gen. Ethan Diven, acting commanding general of the First Cavalry Division, said in a statement, "Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the families, friends, and fellow Troopers of those involved during this incredibly difficult time," as the Army withheld the names of the soldiers until 24 hours after next-of-kin notification.
The Bell County Sheriff's Office spokesman Cliff Coleman told the Austin American-Statesman that first responders were called south of Salado and about about a mile west of Interstate 35, and he said the helicopter crashed in a field and did not hit any structures or people on the ground.
The BBC quoted Coleman saying the large fire was "getting out of control very quickly," while the U.S. Army said emergency response efforts were underway and that its immediate priority was securing the site and supporting initial response efforts.
CNN reported that crews responded to a large, uncontrolled wildfire sparked by the crash and that evacuations were in place, while the Texas A&M Forest Service Incident Viewer said the blaze had burned about 100 acres and was 45% contained by 5 p.m. local time.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott offered condolences on X after the deaths of the two pilots, saying, "Join Cecilia and me in prayer for their families and the entire Fort Hood community."
What happens next
Fort Hood’s Army Criminal Investigation Division was leading the response, while Bell County authorities and the Texas Department of Public Safety were assisting, as local officials continued firefighting and road-closure measures around the crash site.
“FM 2843 was “impassable” in the area of the fire”
The Austin American-Statesman said FM 2843 was "impassable" in the area of the fire, and it reported that Travis County STAR Flight assisted with firefighting efforts by dropping water on the fire.
CBS News said the Army and local law enforcement officials reported the crash did not hit any homes or other structures, and it added that the helicopter crash also sparked a wildfire that was still burning out of control as of about 3:30 p.m. local time.
KWTX reported that the Texas A&M Forest Service told it the grass fire grew to about 155 acres Wednesday afternoon and that at last check it was 95 percent contained.
While the helicopter’s origin and destination were not known at the time, the BBC said an investigation into the incident is ongoing and emergency response efforts are underway, and the Army said names would be released 24 hours after families were notified.
