Officials in central Texas confirmed on Wednesday that two individuals died following the crash of a military helicopter in Salado. The Bell County Sheriff’s Office reported that the AH-64 U.S. Army Apache attack helicopter, based at Fort Hood, went down in a field, igniting a wildfire and prompting evacuations, although no structures were damaged. Emergency responders pronounced the two individuals dead around 2:30 p.m. local time after receiving 911 calls.
Cliff Coleman, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office, described the crash as violent. The incident occurred approximately 30 minutes from Fort Hood, and the cause of the crash is currently under investigation by the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division. The identities of the deceased have not yet been released.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott expressed condolences in a statement, urging prayers for the families affected and the Fort Hood community. Brig. Gen. Ethan Diven, acting commanding general, stated that the immediate priority is securing the crash site and supporting initial response efforts.