A military helicopter crashed in a field south of Salado, Texas, on Wednesday, killing two people and sparking a wildfire that forced evacuations and prompted an emergency response from local authorities and Fort Hood officials.
The crash occurred at approximately 1:34 p.m. when the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter went down in a field roughly 30 minutes from Fort Hood. According to Bell County Sheriff's Office spokesman Cliff Coleman, the aircraft was initially believed to be from Fort Hood, but confirmation came later from military officials that it was indeed an Apache helicopter based at the installation.
Coleman described the crash as violent and confirmed that two people were killed in the incident. No one else was injured. The identities of the deceased have not been released by Fort Hood authorities, who are leading the investigation into the cause of the crash.
The crash sparked a wildfire that prompted road closures, evacuations, and a large emergency response from local services, military responders, and law enforcement. As of 4 p.m. ET, the fire remained uncontrolled, with some residents having been evacuated due to the flames. The public was warned to avoid the affected area and choose an alternate route.
Fort Hood officials have released a statement saying that their immediate priority is securing the site and supporting the initial response efforts. Brig. Gen. Ethan Diven, acting commanding general, expressed his thoughts for the crew and their families as they await further information on the incident.
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