Two service members died after a US Army AH-64 Apache helicopter crashed in a field south of Salado, Texas, on Wednesday afternoon, according to officials from Fort Hood.
The helicopter, which was based at Fort Hood, a major military installation in central Texas, was reportedly on a routine training flight at the time of the incident.
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Emergency services were dispatched to the scene at approximately 13:33 local time (18:33 GMT) following reports of wreckage in rural Bell County.
Upon arrival, officers from the Bell County Sheriff’s Office found the crashed helicopter engulfed in a rapidly spreading fire, spokesman Cliff Coleman confirmed.
The two-person crew was pronounced dead at the scene.
No cause for the crash has yet been determined, and military officials have not released the names of those killed.
The US Army’s criminal investigation division is leading the inquiry, the sheriff’s office said.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott addressed the crash, calling for prayers for the families of the victims and the Fort Hood community and acknowledging the state’s “debt” to its service members.
“Today, an Apache helicopter crashed in Bell County during Fort Hood operations, killing two members of our military…. Texas is forever indebted to those who serve our state and nation,” Governor Abbott said.
The incident did not result in any damage to nearby homes or structures, with authorities confirming the helicopter came down in an open field.
“It crashed into a field, and you could tell it was a violent crash,” Coleman said.
Local emergency services, military staff, and law enforcement officers attended the scene, with Fort Hood’s Criminal Investigation Division heading the investigation, according to NBC News.
Officials have yet to provide additional details regarding the circumstances or outcomes of the ongoing response efforts.
The AH-64 Apache is a twin-engine, four-bladed attack helicopter operated by a pilot and co-pilot gunner in tandem cockpits, according to the US Army.
Designed for offensive missions, the aircraft is equipped with a 30mm automatic cannon, aerial rockets, and Hellfire missiles.
