Two soldiers were killed when a U.S. Army Apache helicopter from Fort Hood crashed in Salado, Texas, on Wednesday, military and local law enforcement officials said. Bell County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Bill Coleman said two people were aboard the helicopter and were pronounced dead at the scene around 2:30 p.m. local time. Coleman said the helicopter crashed in a field and did not hit any homes or other structures. “You could tell it was a violent accident,” he said. The aftermath of an Apache helicopter crash in Salado, Texas, on August 12, 2026. Bell County Sheriff’s Office The AH-64 Apache attack helicopter was based at Fort Hood, Brig. Gen. Ethan Diven, acting commanding general, confirmed in a statement. “Our immediate priority is to secure the site and support initial response efforts,” Diven said. “Our thoughts are with the crew and their families as we await further information.” No immediate information was provided about a possible cause of the crash or the identities of the victims. The military said names would be released 24 hours after families were notified. Coleman said the accident also sparked a wildfire, which was still out of control at around 3:30 p.m. local time. An air tanker drops fire retardant in a field southwest of Salado, Texas, after a military helicopter crashed and sparked a grass fire on Aug. 12, 2026. Brent Johnson/The Killeen Daily Herald via AP Fort Hood is located near Killeen, Texas, slightly northwest of Salado and about 70 miles north of Austin. More from CBS News Go deeper with The Free Press in:
