Two Dead After Military Helicopter Crashes In Texas, Starting Wildfire
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In the afternoon of Wednesday, Aug. 12, a military helicopter crashed near Salado, Texas.
The crash, which occurred around 1:34 p.m. CT, killed two service members from Fort Hood who were onboard the helicopter, according to local CBS Austin.
“[Justice of the Peace Michael Tice pronounced both soldiers deceased at 2:30 p.m and ordered an autopsy to be performed by the United States Army,” the Bell County Sheriff’s Office said in an Aug. 13 Facebook post.
Their identities were not immediately disclosed, with over 24 hours from the time of the wreck given to properly notify next of kin.
In the morning of Friday, Aug. 14, Fort Hood released their identities to the public.
The helicopter was an AH-64E Apache attack helicopter from Fort Hood, and did not crash into any structures.
A spokesperson for the Bell County Sheriff’s Office, Cliff Coleman, told CNN, as quoted by CBS Austin, “It crashed into a field, and you could tell it was a violent crash.”
In a statement issued by Brig. Gen. Ethan Diven, 1st Calvary Division acting commanding general, said, “Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the families, friends, and fellow Troopers of those involved during this incredibly difficult time.”
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Fort Hood Releases Identities Of Pilots Tragically Killed In Crash
On Aug. 14, two days after the tragic Apache helicopter crash in Salado, Texas, Fort Hood released the identities of the two pilots onboard who lost their lives.
The pilots killed in the crash were Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey, age 34; and Warrant Officer Seth L. Olmstead, age 25.
Both soldiers were assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, stationed at Fort Hood.
Huey was from Killeen, Texas, and he joined the Army in 2014. Hailing from Belton, Texas, Olmstead joined the Army in 2023.
According to Fort Hood, the two pilots were flying the helicopter on a maintenance test flight before the “mishap” occurred.
Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral, III Armored Corps and Fort Hood commanding general, said in a statement, “Our hearts and deepest condolences are with the families of the Soldiers we lost Wednesday. The Army is a family, and a tragedy like this is felt throughout our formations and our community.”
Noting the presence of chaplains, the commanding general added, “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.”
The news release also addressed the start of an investigation, noting, “A safety investigation team from the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center in Fort Rucker, Alabama, arrived Aug. 13 and will lead the safety investigation of the mishap.”
Response To The Military Helicopter Wreck, And The Wildfire It Started
While the wreck did not affect any structures, it did spark a wildfire.
Shortly after the wreck, Brig. Gen. Ethan Diven said, “Our immediate priority is securing the site and supporting the initial response efforts.”
Responding to the blaze, dubbed the Dove Hollow Fire, the Texas A&M Forest Service said it had the fire 45 percent contained as of around 5:30 p.m. CT on Aug. 12, reporting that the fire had spread over 100 acres.
In an update given by the Bell County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday, Aug. 13, the fire was said to be 100 percent contained, with 155 acres of land burned. Further, the fire is not expected to be 100% under control until Sunday, Aug. 16.
Expounding on the difference between “contained” and “under control,” the sheriff’s office wrote, “According to Chief Franz of the Salado Fire Department, crews continue to monitor the area closely. Because of the high winds and extremely dry conditions, embers may remain beneath the charred grass and could reignite or be carried into nearby areas.”
The efforts of the 200 firefighters from 22 agencies, as well as 100 law enforcement personnel from nine agencies led to all five homes that were within reach of the fire being saved.
Evacuations were conducted for the safety of the residents within reach of the fire.
A total of 10 outbuildings were also threatened by the fire, but only one outbuilding was lost ultimately in the Dove Hollow Fire.
See aerial footage of the devastation from the fire, here:
Texas Governor Greg Abbott invited the public to join him in prayer for the families of those who were in the crash.
He added, “Texas is forever indebted to those who serve our state and nation.”
See his full statement, here:
Today, an Apache helicopter crashed in Bell County during Fort Hood operations, killing two members of our military.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) August 12, 2026
Join Cecilia and me in prayer for their families and the entire Fort Hood community. Texas is forever indebted to those who serve our state and nation.…
Watch comments from Cliff Coleman, public information officer for the Bell County Sheriff’s Office, here:
See footage of the crash, and the response, here:
🚨 BREAKING: A US Army Apache gunship has CRASHED near Salado, Texas, sparking a LARGE fire
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) August 12, 2026
Two service members are confirmed dead. Pray for their families today 🙏🏻
Salado is southeast of Fort Hood, but has not confirmed the helicopter came from their base.…
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