Two US Army Soldiers Killed in Apache Helicopter Crash Near Fort Hood, Texas

Two U.S. Army soldiers were killed on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, after an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter from Fort Hood crashed in Bell County, Texas, near the village of Salado, triggering a fast-moving grass fire that forced precautionary evacuations in the area.

The helicopter went down at about 1:30 to 1:35 p.m. local time. According to Bell County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Cliff Coleman, 911 calls began coming in shortly afterwards reporting a helicopter crash and a rapidly spreading fire near the 16500 block of Kuykendall Branch Road, also referenced in some reports as being near Dove Hollow Lane. The crash site was about half a mile west of Interstate 35 and south of Salado, roughly 60 miles north of Austin and less than 20 miles from Fort Hood.

Both crew members aboard the two-seat aircraft were pronounced dead at the scene by the Bell County justice of the peace at around 2:30 p.m. Coleman said the impact was violent. Authorities said the helicopter did not hit any homes, buildings or people on the ground, and no other injuries were reported.

Fort Hood confirms Apache crash during operations

Fort Hood confirmed that the aircraft involved was an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter assigned to the installation. Some accounts identified it specifically as an AH-64E variant. The aircraft was associated with the 1st Cavalry Division, and a military official who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity said it had been on a routine training flight when it crashed.

Brig. Gen. Ethan Diven, acting commanding general of the 1st Cavalry Division, said the Army’s immediate focus was on securing the crash site and supporting the initial response. “Our immediate priority is securing the site and supporting the initial response efforts. Our thoughts are with the crew and their families as we await further information,” he said. He later offered his deepest sympathies to the soldiers’ families, friends and fellow troopers.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott also responded publicly, writing on X: “Today, an Apache helicopter crashed in Bell County during Fort Hood operations, killing two members of our military. Join Cecilia and me in prayer for their families and the entire Fort Hood community. Texas is forever indebted to those who serve our state and nation.”

The identities of the two soldiers were withheld pending notification of next of kin. The Army indicated their names would be released 24 hours after their families had been informed, which was expected on Thursday. Their remains were to be taken to Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood.

The accident set off a substantial grass fire that was estimated in various reports at between 77 and 100 acres. Coleman said deputies arriving at the scene found the blaze “getting out of control very quickly.” As a precaution, nearby homes were evacuated.

Multiple local fire departments responded alongside military personnel and law enforcement officers. Farm to Market Road 2843 near the crash site was closed during the emergency response. The Texas A&M Forest Service also assisted. By later in the day, reports said the fire — referred to in some accounts as the Dove Hollow Fire — had either been brought under control or had reached high containment levels. No structures were damaged.

The AH-64 Apache is a twin-engine, four-bladed attack helicopter used by the U.S. Army for armed reconnaissance, close combat support and related missions. It carries a crew of two, with the pilot seated in the rear cockpit and the co-pilot/gunner in the front. The aircraft can be armed with Hellfire missiles, rockets and a 30 mm chain gun, and has long been one of the Army’s principal combat helicopter platforms.

The helicopter that crashed was based at Fort Hood, one of the Army’s major installations for training and deploying heavy forces. Training flights by Apache helicopters are routine at such posts, and the Army has so far described Wednesday’s mission as a routine training flight.

Local officials said Fort Hood’s criminal investigation division is leading the inquiry into the crash. No cause has yet been announced publicly. The Army has not released additional details about the specific unit involved, the helicopter’s flight path, the weather at the time of the crash or the aircraft’s maintenance status.

Investigations into military aviation accidents typically examine the crash site along with flight data, maintenance records and weather conditions. As of early reports on August 12 and 13, the site remained secured and the incident was still under active investigation, with Army personnel and local responders continuing to coordinate on the ground.

The Army has not yet provided broader operational or safety context beyond its initial statements. Further updates are expected in the coming days, including the identities of the two soldiers and any preliminary findings from the investigation.