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Two Soldiers Killed in Army Apache Helicopter Crash in Salado, Texas
Just the facts
An AH-64 Apache helicopter assigned to Fort Hood crashed into a field near Salado, Texas, at approximately 2:30 p.m. local time on August 12, 2026. Bell County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Bill Coleman confirmed that both crew members on board were pronounced dead at the scene. Acting Commanding General Ethan Diven stated that the military's immediate priority is securing the crash site and investigating the cause of the incident. The impact ignited a surrounding vegetation fire that prompted emergency responses and localized precautionary evacuations. The U.S. Army withheld the identities of the deceased personnel pending a 24-hour family notification period.
Why this is news
A U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter crashed during a routine training flight in Bell County, Texas, killing both military crew members on board. The crash occurred in an open field near Salado, approximately 70 miles north of Austin.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.