The U.S. Army grounded all AH-64 Apache helicopter training flights on Friday after two soldiers died in a crash near Fort Hood, Texas, earlier this week. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey, 34, and Warrant Officer Seth L. Olmstead, 25, were killed when their helicopter crashed during a maintenance test flight near Salado on August 12, 2026.
“The stand-down will remain in effect until we have a better understanding of the root cause of the accident,” the Army said in a statement. The grounding applies to all Apache training flight operations across Army units nationwide.
The crash occurred in Bell County, about 30 miles southeast of Fort Hood, and sparked a large brush fire that multiple local fire departments responded to. A safety investigation team from the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center in Fort Rucker, Alabama, arrived at the scene and is leading the investigation into what caused the mishap.
The Army described the AH-64 Apache as “the most advanced aerial fighting vehicle in the world.” The twin-engine helicopter is typically crewed by a pilot and a co-pilot gunner, equipped with a rapid-fire gun and capable of launching Hellfire missiles. Hundreds of Apaches are operated by Army and National Guard units across the country.
Recent data show that Apaches have experienced a higher number of recent mishaps than other helicopters in the Army inventory, according to reporting on the incident. Military stand-downs are a standard response to fatal crashes, allowing commanders and safety officers to review procedures and maintenance protocols before operations resume.
In June 2026, an Apache patrolling the Strait of Hormuz was shot down by an Iranian drone during the U.S.-Iran war, according to an announcement by President Trump. Both pilots were rescued by a sea drone, highlighting the aircraft’s operational role in active conflicts.
The Army expressed its condolences to the families of the fallen pilots. Both Huey and Olmstead were assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, based at Fort Hood. Huey entered the Army in 2014, while Olmstead joined in 2023.
Sources
- CBS News — Army statement on Apache grounding, pilot identities, and investigation status
- ABC News — Army announcement of temporary stand-down, investigation details, and Apache mishap data
- Reuters — Crash details, location, and initial Army confirmation
- ABC7 San Francisco — Pilot identities, Fort Hood history, and Army Combat Readiness Center investigation
