2 dead after military helicopter crashes in Central Texas
By Cindy Von Quednow, Aaron Cooper, CNN
(CNN) — Two people are dead after a military helicopter crashed in a field in Salado, Texas, on Wednesday afternoon, a sheriff’s official said.
The Apache helicopter from Fort Hood military installation crashed around 1:35 p.m. local time, and the two pilots on board were confirmed dead, according to Cliff Coleman, a spokesman for the Bell County Sheriff’s Office.
Crews responded to a large, uncontrolled wildfire sparked by the crash, and evacuations were in place, Coleman said.
The helicopter did not hit any structures or people, Coleman said.
“It crashed into a field, and you could tell it was a violent crash,” he added.
The AH-64 Apache attack helicopter was based at Fort Hood, the installation said in a statement. Local emergency responders, military personnel and law enforcement were on scene.
“Our immediate priority is securing the site and supporting the initial response efforts,” Brig. Gen. Ethan Diven, acting commanding general, said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the crew and their families as we await further information.”
It was unclear where the helicopter was coming from or where it was headed.
The AH-64 Apache is an attack helicopter with seats for two crew members: the pilot in the rear of the aircraft and the co-pilot and gunner in the front, according to the US Army.
The four-bladed helicopter can carry 16 Hellfire missiles, 76 aerial rockets and 1,200 rounds for its 30 mm gun.
Apaches have been upgraded and modernized since the aircraft was first introduced in 1984, and they are slated to keep flying until 2050.
“It is highly mobile, lethal, and can destroy armor, personnel, and materiel targets in obscured battlefield conditions at ranges out to 8 kms (5 miles),” the Army said on its website. “With the addition of improved situational awareness, flight performance, and joint interoperability, the AH-64E has become the most advanced aerial fighting vehicle in the world.”
This story has been updated with additional information.
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