Two soldiers killed in US Army Apache helicopter crash in Texas

Two US Army soldiers were killed on Wednesday when their AH-64E Apache attack helicopter crashed in a rural area south of Salado, central Texas. The aircraft, which belonged to the 1st Cavalry Division based at Fort Hood, went down at approximately 13:33 local time, triggering a fire that local emergency responders struggled to contain upon arrival.

The military confirmed the deaths of both crew members shortly after the incident. While the US Army has initiated an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash and the nature of the mission the helicopter was performing at the time, no specific cause has been released. Brigadier General Ethan Diven, the acting commanding general of the 1st Cavalry Division, stated that the current focus remains on securing the site and supporting the families of the deceased.

This incident follows a separate fatal aviation disaster in June 2026, when a B-52 bomber crashed in California, resulting in the deaths of all eight people on board. Authorities continue to gather information regarding the latest crash in Texas as the investigation proceeds.