OAN Staff Lillian Mann
3:33 PM – Wednesday, August 12, 2026
A military helicopter crashed in Salado, Texas, killing two people, according to the Bell County Sheriff’s Office.
On Wednesday, the AH-64 United States Army Apache aircraft, operating out of Fort Hood military installation, crashed around 1:35 p.m. local time. Both pilots were pronounced dead at the scene, according to Cliff Coleman, a spokesman for the Bell County Sheriff’s Office.
“It crashed into a field, and you could tell it was a violent crash,” Coleman said.
Emergency crews responded to a large wildfire sparked from the crash, prompting localized evacuations. While the site continued to burn Wednesday afternoon, authorities confirmed that no homes or other structures were damaged.
“Our immediate priority is securing the site and supporting the initial response efforts,” Brigadier General Ethan Diven, acting commanding general, said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the crew and their families as we await further information.”
According to the U.S. Army, the AH-64 Apache is a two-person attack helicopter—with the gunner seated in the front and the pilot in the rear. First introduced in 1984, this four-bladed aircraft packs heavy firepower—carrying up to 16 Hellfire missiles, 76 aerial rockets and 1,200 rounds for its 30mm chain gun.
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