A tragic incident occurred on Wednesday when a military helicopter crashed in Salado, Texas, resulting in the death of two individuals on board, according to the Bell County Sheriff’s Office. The crash happened around 1:30 p.m., after which emergency calls were made to 911. The location of Salado is approximately 50 miles north of Austin.
The helicopter involved was an AH-64 U.S. Army Apache attack helicopter, stationed at Fort Hood. Brig. Gen. Ethan Diven, the acting commanding general, emphasized, “Our immediate priority is securing the site and supporting the initial response efforts.” He also expressed sympathies for the crew and their families while awaiting more details.
Officials have not yet released the identities of the victims. Cliff Coleman from the Sheriff’s Office reported that no structures were damaged, and there were no additional injuries. “It crashed into a field, and you could tell it was a violent crash,” he stated to the press at the scene.
The crash resulted in a significant fire, which Coleman described as “out of control.” This fire has destroyed a large tract of land and necessitated evacuations in the vicinity.
Response teams include local emergency responders, military personnel, and law enforcement. The criminal investigation division of Fort Hood is managing the investigation.
The Army describes the AH-64 Apache as a twin-engine, four-bladed, multi-mission attack helicopter. It is lauded on the Army website as “the most advanced aerial fighting vehicle in the world,” designed specifically as a stable platform for weapon delivery.
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