Archive · 15 Aug 2026
US Army Grounds Apache Training Flights After Fatal Texas Crash
The United States Army made a big decision about its helicopters.
It stopped all training flights for a special kind of helicopter called the Apache.
This happened after one of those helicopters crashed in Texas.
Sadly, two soldiers were on the helicopter and did not survive.
Their names were Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey and Warrant Officer Seth L. Olmstead.
The crash happened on Wednesday near a town called Salado, not far from a big Army base called Fort Hood.
Army leaders want to know exactly why the crash happened.
They said training flights will stay grounded until they understand the root cause.
Army leaders also said this pause does not stop Apaches from flying real combat missions in the war in Iran.
The Army is pausing training to make sure its helicopters and soldiers stay safe.
The US Army temporarily grounded all AH-64 Apache helicopter training flights Friday after a fatal crash in Texas killed two soldiers.
The helicopter crashed Wednesday in a grassy field near Salado, Texas, about 30 miles (48 km) from Fort Hood.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey, 34, of Killeen, Texas, and Warrant Officer Seth L. Olmstead, 25, of Belton, Texas, the only two people aboard, were killed.
A safety investigation team from the Army Combat Readiness Center in Fort Rucker, Alabama, is investigating; no cause has been released.
The Army said the stand-down will remain in effect until the root cause is understood and made no mention of stopping Apache combat missions in the war in Iran.
- Who
- U.S. Army leaders; crash victims were Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey, 34, of Killeen, Texas, and Warrant Officer Seth L. Olmstead, 25, of Belton, Texas
- What
- Temporarily grounded all AH-64 Apache helicopter training flights following a fatal crash that killed two soldiers
- When
- Stand-down announced Friday, following the crash on Wednesday of the same week
- Where
- Near Salado, Texas, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) from Fort Hood
- Why
- To better understand the root cause of the accident before resuming training operations
- Aircraft affected
- AH-64 Apache helicopters
- Action taken
- Temporary stand-down of all Apache training flights
- Casualties
- 2 soldiers killed; they were the only two people on board
- Crash location
- Grassy field near Salado, Texas, about 30 miles (48 km) from Fort Hood
- Crash date
- Wednesday; stand-down announced Friday
- Victims
- CW2 Deontre T. Huey, 34, of Killeen, Texas; WO Seth L. Olmstead, 25, of Belton, Texas
- Investigating team
- Army Combat Readiness Center, Fort Rucker, Alabama
- Apache service history
- Serving since 1984; more than 5,000 deployed by the U.S. and its allies
Sources
US Military Halts All Apache Helicopter Training After Fatal Texas Crash Kills 2 Soldiers
US Army pauses Apache helicopter training after Texas crash kills two soldiers - Telegraph India
US Army Grounds All Apache Helicopters After Fort Hood Crash Kills 2 Soldiers
