Two Army soldiers died when an AH-64E Apache helicopter from Fort Hood went down near Salado, Texas, on Wednesday afternoon. The Bell County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the two crew members were the only occupants and were pronounced dead at the scene. Their names are being withheld pending next‑of‑kin notification, and their remains will be transferred to Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood.
Brig. Gen. Ethan Diven, acting commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, issued a statement expressing deep sympathy for the families, friends, and fellow Troopers. Officials from Fort Hood and the Army Criminal Investigation Division have been asked to field further questions as the investigation proceeds.
The crash follows a series of recent U.S. military training accidents, including a mid‑air collision of two Navy EA‑18G Growlers in May, a Marine F/A‑18 Hornet crash in June, an Air Force B‑52 crash at Edwards Air Force Base, and an F‑35B landing incident at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
Authorities will continue to examine the cause of the Apache crash while families of the fallen service members are notified and supported.
