Two individuals died on Wednesday when an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter crashed in central Texas. The Bell County Sheriff's Office received an emergency call regarding wreckage in fields south of Salado at approximately 1:33 p.m. local time.
Officials pronounced the two individuals dead at the scene. First responders encountered a large fire upon arrival, according to a spokesman for the Bell County Sheriff's Office. The aircraft was based at Fort Hood, a major U.S. Army installation.
The U.S. Army confirmed that an investigation into the incident is underway and emergency response efforts are in progress. Brig. Gen. Ethan Diven, acting commanding general of the 1st Cavalry Division, stated that the immediate priority is securing the site and supporting response efforts. "Our thoughts are with the crew and their families as we await further information," Diven said.