Two Army Soldiers Killed in Apache Helicopter Crash Near Fort Hood
The U.S. Army identified the two service members who died when an AH-64E Apache crashed during a maintenance test flight near Fort Hood, Texas, and officials pledged support for their families.
The U.S. Army confirmed that Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey, 34, of Killeen, Texas, and Warrant Officer Seth L. Olmstead, 25, of Belton, Texas, were killed in an AH-64E Apache helicopter crash on Wednesday. The aircraft, conducting a maintenance test flight, went down in Salado, about 30 miles southeast of Fort Hood, and a fire that followed burned roughly 155 acres, threatening nearby structures.
Both soldiers were assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. Huey had served since 2014, while Olmstead joined the Army in 2023 as a warrant officer candidate.
"Our hearts and deepest condolences are with the families of the Soldiers we lost Wednesday," said Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral, commanding general of Fort Hood and III Armored Corps, in an official release.
"In the difficult days ahead, our priority is to ensure these families and our soldiers have the care and support they need. We are making all appropriate resources available to those affected by this loss," Admiral added.
The Bell County Sheriff’s Office pronounced the two soldiers dead at the scene and reported that the fire was out of control, destroying one building and endangering others. Fort Hood officials said chaplains and support personnel are being made available to assist the affected families and unit members.