Two US Army soldiers were killed Wednesday when an AH-64E Apache attack helicopter crashed in Salado, Texas, according to Fort Hood, the military installation where the aircraft was based.
Fort Hood confirmed the deaths in a statement after the helicopter went down in the central Texas community. The military installation said personnel remained at the crash site while working alongside local first responders.
“An AH-64E Apache attack helicopter based at Fort Hood crashed today in Salado. Two soldiers are confirmed deceased,” Fort Hood said.
The military did not immediately disclose what the helicopter was doing when the crash occurred. Officials also withheld the names of the two soldiers as authorities worked to notify their families.
The circumstances surrounding the crash were not immediately clear. Military and local authorities were at the scene as they began responding to the incident and gathering information about what happened.
The AH-64E Apache is one of the US Army’s primary attack helicopters. It is designed to support ground forces and conduct missions against enemy targets, while also carrying out reconnaissance and other battlefield operations.
Fort Hood, located in central Texas, is a major US Army installation and an important base for military aviation. The installation hosts a large number of soldiers and military units and regularly supports aircraft training and other activities.
A formal investigation is expected to examine the circumstances that led to the crash. Investigators typically review the aircraft’s maintenance records, flight information and other evidence from the crash site when determining the cause of a military aviation accident.
The deaths mark another serious loss for the US military aviation community. The Texas crash occurred about two months after a US Air Force B-52 bomber crashed in California, killing all eight people aboard.
The military has not said whether the Apache crash was connected to a training exercise, routine flight or another mission. Officials also have not released information about possible mechanical problems or other factors that may have contributed to the accident.
Fort Hood said its personnel were continuing to work with local emergency responders at the scene. More information is expected to be released as investigators assess the crash and the families of the deceased soldiers are notified.
The identities of the soldiers are expected to be announced later, following the completion of the military’s next-of-kin notification process.
