Texas: Two U.S. Army soldiers were killed on Wednesday when an Apache military helicopter crashed in Bell County, Texas, officials said.
The helicopter was attached to Fort Hood and crashed into a field during military operations. The crash also sparked a large grass fire in the area.
Helicopter Crashes During Fort Hood Operations
The accident occurred in Bell County, about 60 miles (100 kilometers) north of Austin, the Texas state capital.
Cliff Coleman, a spokesperson for the Bell County Sheriff’s Office, confirmed the crash. He said the Bell County justice of the peace declared both people on board dead.
The U.S. Army later confirmed that an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter had crashed. The Army also confirmed that two soldiers died in the incident.
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However, officials have not yet released the names of the soldiers. The Army said it would identify them after notifying their families.
Texas Governor Confirms Military Deaths
Texas Governor Greg Abbott also confirmed the deaths following the crash.
In a statement posted on X, Abbott said an Apache helicopter crashed in Bell County during Fort Hood operations. He added that two members of the U.S. military lost their lives.
Meanwhile, emergency crews rushed to the crash site after the helicopter went down.
Crash Sparks Large Grass Fire
The crash caused a large grass fire around the site. Several local fire departments responded to the blaze and worked to control the flames.
Images from the scene showed firefighters examining the wreckage. The photographs also showed a large area of burned grass and smoke rising from the crash site.
Authorities have not yet announced the cause of the accident. An investigation is expected to determine what led to the helicopter crash.
Investigation Underway
The AH-64 Apache is a U.S. Army attack helicopter designed for combat and close air support missions. Fort Hood is a major U.S. military installation in Texas and supports Army training and operations.
Officials are expected to provide further details as the investigation progresses. The Army has not yet released information about the circumstances surrounding the crash or the mission being conducted at the time.
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The deaths mark a tragic incident for the U.S. Army and the families of the two soldiers.
