FORT CAMPBELL, KY (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – In response to the death of two soldiers in an AH64 Apache helicopter crash near Fort Hood, Texas, this week, the Army has directed a temporary stand-down of all AH64 Apache training flight operations, including at Fort Campbell.
“The stand-down will remain in effect until we have a better understanding of the root cause of the accident,” an Army news release stated.
The helicopter crashed Wednesday, Aug. 12, in a central Texas field, sparking a wildfire that forced several homes to be evacuated, a sheriff’s official told the Associated Press.
The Apache “experienced a mishap … during a maintenance test flight,” according to the Army. Two soldiers – identified as 34-year-old Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey and 25-year-old Warrant Officer Seth L. Olmstead – died in the crash, according to ABC News.
It’s not yet clear what led to the crash, and the Army said a team from the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center is leading the safety investigation. Recent data show that Apaches have a higher number of recent mishaps than other helicopters in the Army inventory, ABC reported.
“We mourn these aviators, and our deepest condolences remain with their families, friends, and unit during this extraordinarily difficult time,” the Army news release said. “We also extend our sincere thanks for the immediate action taken by the first responders from the community surrounding Fort Hood.”
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