The U.S. Army has identified two pilots who died when an AH-64E Apache helicopter crashed during a training exercise south of Salado, Texas. The incident occurred near Fort Hood and sparked a wildfire that necessitated evacuations.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey, 34, and Warrant Officer Seth L. Olmstead, 25, were killed in the crash. Both pilots were assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood.
Huey joined the Army in 2014 and was assigned to his current unit in February 2022. He was a native of Killeen, Texas. Olmstead entered the Army in January 2023 and was assigned to the unit in October 2025. He was from Belton, Texas.
"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 released by the Army. "The Army is a family, and a tragedy like this is felt throughout our formations and our community."
Authorities reported that the helicopter crashed into a field approximately 30 minutes from Fort Hood. The resulting wildfire prompted a significant emergency response, including firefighting helicopters.
A safety investigation team from the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center in Fort Rucker, Alabama, arrived on August 13 to lead the investigation into the mishap. The Army is overseeing the safety investigation.