US Army suspends Apache training flights after fatal Texas crash

The U.S. Army has temporarily suspended all AH-64 Apache helicopter training flights following a crash near Fort Hood, Texas, that killed two soldiers earlier this week.

“Army leaders directed a temporary stand-down of AH64 Apache training flight operations,” the Army said in a statement. “The stand-down will remain in effect until we have a better understanding of the root cause of the accident.”

Investigators from the Army Combat Readiness Centre at Fort Rucker, Alabama, arrived at the crash site on Thursday, August 13, and will lead the investigation into the accident.

The AH-64 Apache is an attack helicopter designed for a two-person crew, with the pilot seated in the rear and the co-pilot and gunner in the front, according to the U.S. Army.

The soldiers killed in the crash were Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre Huey, 34, and Warrant Officer Seth Olmstead, 25, according to a statement from Fort Hood.

Both were assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division at the base.

The four-bladed Apache can carry up to 16 Hellfire missiles, 76 aerial rockets and 1,200 rounds of ammunition for its 30 mm cannon.

The aircraft has undergone successive upgrades and modernization programs since it was first introduced in 1984. The Army plans to keep the Apache in service until 2050.

By Tamilla Hasanova