Topline
An attack helicopter from the U.S. Army base Fort Hood crashed near the installation Wednesday, according to multiple reports, killing both of its pilots.
A US Army AH-64D Apache helicopter hovers flies during military exercises of Poland and NATO allied countries in Orzysz, northwestern Poland, on September 17, 2025.
Photo by Wojtek RADWANSKI / AFP)
Key Facts
The crash triggered a blaze that has burned about 100 acres of land north of Austin, Texas, according to data from the Texas A&M Forest Service Incident Viewer.
Cliff Coleman, a spokesperson for the Bell County Sheriff’s Office, told reporters the helicopter landed in a field, calling it a “violent crash.”
The helicopter involved in the crash is the AH-64 Apache, which carries a pilot and a co-pilot and is meant for reconnaissance, attacks on armored targets and aerial support for ground troops.
The crash took place around 1:35 p.m. local time and the pilots were pronounced dead nearly an hour later, Coleman said.
Forbes has reached out to the Army for comment.
What We Don’t Know
It is unclear where the helicopter was going or what the reason for its deployment was. Coleman deferred several questions about the situation to Army authorities at Fort Hood who are investigating the crash.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.