The U.S. Army identified Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey, 34, and Warrant Officer Seth L. Olmstead, 25, as the two pilots killed when an AH-64E Apache from Fort Hood crashed during a maintenance test flight near Salado, Texas. The crash sparked a wildfire that consumed about 155 acres and led to local evacuations. A safety investigation team from the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center at Fort Rucker has arrived to lead the probe.
Two Fort Hood Apache Pilots Killed in Texas Crash Near Salado; Wildfire Forces Evacuations
Two U.S. Army pilots were killed when an Apache attack helicopter from Fort Hood crashed in Texas. They were identified as Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey (right) and Warrant Officer Seth L. Olmstead (left). Photo courtesy of the U.S. Army
The U.S. Army on Friday identified the two soldiers who were killed when an AH-64E Apache attack helicopter from Fort Hood crashed near Salado, Texas, during a maintenance test flight.
The deceased were Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey and Warrant Officer Seth L. Olmstead, military officials said in a statement. The aircraft "experienced a mishap" during the flight, resulting in the crash on Wednesday.
"Our hearts and deepest condolences are with the families of the soldiers we lost Wednesday," said Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral, commanding general of III Armored Corps and Fort Hood. "The Army is a family, and a tragedy like this is felt throughout our formations and our community."
Both airmen were assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood.
Service details:
Huey, 34, of Killeen, Texas, enlisted in the Army in February 2014 as a motor transport operator and had been with the unit since February 2022.
Olmstead, 25, of Belton, Texas, entered the Army as a warrant officer candidate in January 2014 and had been assigned to the unit since October 2015.
The crash ignited a large wildfire in the surrounding area that forced some local residents to evacuate. Officials said the blaze consumed roughly 155 acres.
On Thursday, a safety investigation team from the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center at Fort Rucker, Alabama, arrived to lead the inquiry into the incident. The Army has said the team will investigate the cause of the mishap and provide a safety assessment once the field work is complete.
If additional information becomes available, military officials will release updates as part of the ongoing investigation.
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