Two people have died after an Army Apache helicopter crashed in a central Texas field on Wednesday, August 12. The crash killed both people on board and sparked a wildfire that forced several homes to be evacuated.
Routine Training Flight
The helicopter crashed while on a routine training flight. No cause of the crash was immediately announced. The chopper did not hit any homes or other structures when it crashed, said Cliff Coleman, spokesman for the Bell County Sheriff's office.
"You could tell it was a violent crash," he said.
Investigation and Response
Nearby Fort Hood's criminal investigation division is leading the crash investigation. Photographs from the scene showed firefighters walking around a charred field as plumes of dark smoke rose from flames still burning in the wreckage.
"Our immediate priority is securing the site and supporting the initial response efforts," said Brig. Gen. Ethan Diven, acting commanding general. "Our thoughts are with the crew and their families as we await further information."
Fort Hood's History
Fort Hood is a massive base with 214,968 acres (336 square miles) that is used to train and deploy heavy forces. The Army says the rolling, arid terrain around the base provides an ideal training ground.
The crash on Wednesday is not the first instance in which military personnel have died in Fort Hood. In November 2015, four soldiers were killed when a Black Hawk helicopter crashed during a training exercise. Nine Fort Hood soldiers died in 2016 when a rain-swollen creek swept their vehicle into rushing waters.
The AH-64 Apache attack helicopter is configured so that the crew sits behind each other, with the pilot in the rear and the co-pilot gunner in the front position.
