The U.S. Army has identified the two soldiers killed when an AH-64E Apache attack helicopter crashed near Fort Hood in Central Texas this week.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey, 34, and Warrant Officer Seth L. Olmstead, 25, died Wednesday after the helicopter went down near Salado, Texas, the Army said.
The crash happened around 1:40 p.m. during a routine maintenance test flight. Both soldiers were aboard the aircraft.
The crash sparked a wildfire that led to the evacuation of several homes in the area, but no structures were damaged, and no other persons were injured.
Soldiers Identified
Huey, whose home of record was listed as Killeen, Texas, joined the Army in February 2014 as a motor transport operator. He was 34.
Olmstead, whose home of record was listed as Belton, Texas, joined the Army in January 2023 as a warrant officer candidate. He was 25.
The Army did not provide additional details about what led to the crash.
“Our hearts and deepest condolences are with the families of the Soldiers we lost Wednesday,” Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral, III Armored Corps and Fort Hood commanding general, said in a statement, per ArmyTimes. “The Army is a family, and a tragedy like this is felt throughout our formations and our community.”
Crash Investigation Underway
The Army said a safety investigation team from the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center at Fort Rucker, Alabama, will lead the investigation into the crash.
The aircraft reportedly went down in a field in Central Texas and did not strike any structures. A wildfire was reported in the area following the crash, according to the information provided.
The investigation is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the maintenance test flight and determine what caused the helicopter to crash.
The Army described the incident as a “mishap.” No additional cause has been released.
Provided by Dallas Express
