Army temporarily halts Apache helicopter training missions after crash that killed 2

The Army said the stand-down announced Friday will remain in effect until investigators have a better understanding of the cause of the accident.

The U.S. Army temporarily halted all Apache helicopter training missions Friday after a fatal crash in Texas earlier this week killed two soldiers.

The Army released the following statement Friday afternoon:

The Army is profoundly saddened by the loss of two Soldiers in the recent AH64 Apache helicopter crash near Fort Hood, Texas. We mourn these aviators, and our deepest condolences remain with their families, friends, and unit during this extraordinarily difficult time. We also extend our sincere thanks for the immediate action taken by the first responders from the community surrounding Fort Hood. Army leaders directed a temporary stand-down of AH64 Apache training flight operations. The stand-down will remain in effect until we have a better understanding of the root cause of the accident. We currently have no additional information to share.

The Apache attack helicopter had been a core part of Army aviation since the first one was delivered in 1984. More than 5,000 Apaches have been deployed by the U.S. military and its allies over the decades.

The Army is investigating the crash that happened Tuesday outside of Salado, Texas, which is not far from Fort Hood.

The Army said the stand-down will remain in effect until investigators have a better understanding of the cause of the accident.

Army identifies Apache pilots killed in Bell County crash

The Army on Friday identified the two Fort Hood helicopter pilots who were killed when their Apache crashed during a maintenance test flight in central Texas.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey, 34, of Killeen, Texas, and Warrant Officer Seth L. Olmstead, 25, of Belton, Texas, died when the helicopter crashed in a grassy field Wednesday near Salado, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) from Fort Hood. They were the only two people on board.

No cause of the crash was released. A safety investigation team from the Army Combat Readiness Center in Fort Rucker, Alabama, arrived Thursday and is leading the investigation, the Army said.

Huey entered the Army in 2014 and Olmstead entered in 2023. They were assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division.

“Our hearts and deepest condolences are with the families of the Soldiers we lost Wednesday,” said Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral, III Armored Corps and Fort Hood commanding general. “The Army is a family, and a tragedy like this is felt throughout our formations and our community.”

Fort Hood is a massive base with 214,968 acres (86,995 hectares) that is used to train and deploy heavy forces. In November 2015, four soldiers were killed when a Black Hawk helicopter crashed during a training exercise. And nine Fort Hood soldiers died in 2016 when a rain-swollen creek swept their vehicle into rushing waters.

The AH-64 Apache attack helicopter has been a key part of the military’s fleet since the first versions were deployed in 1984. The Apache crew sits one behind the other with the pilot in the rear and the co-pilot gunner in the front position.