Military Apache helicopter crashes in Texas, killing two pilots

Two pilots were killed when a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter crashed in a field near Salado in central Texas on Wednesday afternoon, authorities confirmed.

The Bell County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call about the crash after 1:30 p.m. local time. The helicopter, based at nearby Fort Hood, went down in a private field south of Salado, approximately 30 miles southeast of the military installation and about 50 miles north of Austin.

Both occupants of the aircraft were pronounced dead at the scene, according to Cliff Coleman, spokesman for the Bell County Sheriff's Office. Coleman described the crash as violent. A military official told the Associated Press that the Apache had been on a routine training flight when it went down.

The impact ignited a grass fire that spread rapidly across the dry terrain. When emergency responders arrived, the fire was described as "getting out of control very quickly" and "out of control." The wildfire eventually covered more than 100 acres and was approximately 45 percent contained as of Wednesday evening. Air units responded to combat the blaze, with tanker aircraft dropping fire retardant on the affected area.

The fire forced the evacuation of several nearby homes and led to road closures in the area. Highway FM 2843 became impassable due to the flames. Authorities said there were no reports of damage to buildings or structures beyond the initial crash site.

Brig. Gen. Ethan Diven, acting commanding general of the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, said in a statement: "Our immediate priority is securing the site and supporting the initial response efforts. Our thoughts are with the crew and their families as we await further information."

An investigation into the incident is ongoing. Coleman said he could not confirm whether anyone else had been aboard the helicopter or provide details about the aircraft's origin or destination.