00:06The
00:30A U.S. Army Apache helicopter has crashed in Texas, killing both crew members aboard.
00:37The AH-64 Apache went down Wednesday afternoon, August 12, near Salado in Bell County, Texas.
00:45The crash happened at around 1.30 p.m. in a rural field south of Salado, less than 20
00:52miles from Fort Hood.
00:54The aircraft was based at Fort Hood and assigned to the Army's 1st Cavalry Division.
00:59Officials say the aircraft was carrying two soldiers, the pilot and co-pilot Gunner.
01:05Both crew members were killed in the crash and pronounced dead at the scene.
01:10Their identities have not yet been released, pending notification of their families.
01:15Witnesses and officials described the crash as violent.
01:19The Apache slammed into a field, but fortunately did not strike any homes, buildings, or people
01:25on the ground.
01:26The impact sparked a large grass fire that reportedly burned between roughly 77 and 100 acres.
01:34Emergency crews rushed to the scene as flames spread across the surrounding area.
01:40Firefighters from Salado, Bell County, and the Texas A&M Forest Service joined military personnel
01:47and law enforcement in battling the blaze.
01:50Nearby residents were evacuated as a precaution, while roads including FM 2843 were closed around
01:58the crash site.
01:59Authorities later reported significant progress in containing the fire.
02:03But the focus quickly shifted to the two soldiers who lost their lives.
02:08According to a military official cited by the Associated Press, the Apache was conducting
02:14a routine training flight when it crashed.
02:17However, officials have not determined what caused the helicopter to go down.
02:22An investigation is now underway.
02:24Army investigators, including Fort Hood's Criminal Investigation Division, are working to determine
02:31what happened in the moments before the crash.
02:33The aircraft's flight path, mechanical condition, and other circumstances surrounding the incident
02:39remain under investigation.
02:42Brigadier General Ethan Diven, Acting Commanding General of the 1st Cavalry Division, expressed condolences
02:49to the crew members' families, friends, and fellow soldiers.
02:53He said the immediate priority was securing the crash site and supporting the emergency response.
02:59Texas Governor Greg Abbott also offered condolences, asking people to keep the families
03:05and the Fort Hood community in their thoughts.
03:07For now, many questions remain unanswered.
03:11What caused the Apache to suddenly crash?
03:14Was it a mechanical failure, an operational issue, or something else?
03:19Investigators will now work to piece together the final moments of the flight.
03:23The identities of the two fallen soldiers are expected to be released after their families
03:29have been notified.
03:30The investigation remains active, and officials have not announced a definitive cause of the crash.
03:36For the Army and the Fort Hood community, the tragedy is a stark reminder of the risks
03:42service members face, even during routine training missions.
04:02of the��ers
Comments