Additional Coverage:
- Army identifies 2 pilots killed in Apache helicopter crash near Fort Hood during training exercise (foxnews.com)
The U.S. Army has identified the two pilots who tragically lost their lives during a training exercise near Salado, Texas, on Wednesday involving an AH-64E Apache helicopter.
The fallen soldiers have been named as Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey and Warrant Officer Seth L. Olmstead, according to a statement from Fort Hood.
Lt. Gen.
Kevin D. Admiral, commanding general of the III Armored Corps and Fort Hood, expressed his condolences: “Our hearts and deepest condolences are with the families of the Soldiers we lost Wednesday.
The Army is a family, and a tragedy like this is felt throughout our formations and our community.”
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Huey, 34, from Killeen, Texas, joined the Army in 2014 as a motor transport operator. In February 2022, he was assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division.
Warrant Officer Olmstead, 25, a native of Belton, Texas, entered the Army in January 2023 as a warrant officer candidate and was assigned to the same unit in October 2025.
“The days ahead will be difficult,” Admiral acknowledged. “Our priority is to ensure these families and our Soldiers have the care and support they need. We are making all appropriate resources available to those affected by this loss.”
The helicopter crashed into a field about 30 minutes from Fort Hood, igniting a wildfire that required a significant emergency response. The Army has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
A safety investigation team from the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center in Fort Rucker, Alabama, arrived on August 13 to lead the inquiry into the incident.
Further comments from the U.S. Army are pending as the investigation continues.