Army temporarily grounds Apache helicopter training flights after deadly crash
The U.S. Army said Friday it is temporarily halting Apache helicopter training flights after two soldiers were killed earlier this week in a crash near Fort Hood, Texas.
Updated on: August 14, 2026 / 6:01 PM EDT / CBS News
"The stand-down will remain in effect until we have a better understanding of the root cause of the accident," the Army said in a statement.
The AH-64 Apache attack helicopter crashed Wednesday in a field in rural Salado, Texas, near its base in Fort Hood, the Army and local law enforcement officials said. The Army identified the deceased pilots as Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey, 34, and Warrant Officer Seth L. Olmsted, 25, both Texas natives.
"You could tell this was a violent crash," said Bell County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Bill Coleman, who told reporters the helicopter did not hit any buildings, but sparked a wildfire.
The military has not specified the cause of the crash. It is not unusual for the military to order a temporary stand-down after a fatal crash, especially if the cause is still under investigation.