{
  "id": 1048718,
  "title": "US Army Grounds Apaches: How Attack Helicopter's Safety Record Compares",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/us-army-grounds-apaches-how-attack-helicopters-safety-record-compares",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-15T13:47:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Newsweek",
    "slug": "newsweek",
    "url": "https://www.newsweek.com/us-army-grounds-apaches-how-attack-helicopters-safety-record-compares-12326996"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The U.S. Army has temporarily halted training flights for its AH-64 Apache attack helicopters following a deadly crash at Fort Hood, Texas. Two soldiers were killed when the helicopter plummeted from the sky near Salado, Texas, during a routine training mission. The Army is awaiting a complete understanding of the accident's root cause before lifting the pause.\n\nThe deceased pilots have been identified as Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey, 34, and Warrant Officer Seth L. Olmstead, 25. The crash prompted a wildfire evacuation, yet the helicopter did not strike any homes or structures, though it resulted in a \"violent crash,\" according to Bell County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Cliff Coleman.\n\nThis incident follows a string of serious Apache mishaps in recent years. In March 2024, two Apaches crashed in separate training incidents at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington and Fort Carson in Colorado, both crew members sustaining injuries. February 2024 saw another tragic event at Fort Hood, Mississippi, where two AH-64 Apache aviators were killed during a routine training flight; the Army subsequently implemented a helicopter safety stand-down. Earlier that month, a Utah Army National Guard Apache crashed near West Jordan, injuring two pilots.\n\nThe Army's safety stand-down echoes a series of serious military aviation mishaps. In May 2023, an AH-64 Apache from Joint Base Lewis-McChord crashed during training, injuring two soldiers. April 2023 witnessed two AH-64 Apaches from Fort Wainwright collide near Healy, Alaska, killing three soldiers and injuring a fourth. May 2023's Washington incident saw an Apache from Joint Base Lewis-McChord crash at Yakima Training Center, again injuring two soldiers. February 2021's Alabama crash at Hooper Stagefield near Fort Rucker injured both crew members.",
  "summary": "The latest Fort Hood crash joins a number of serious Apache mishaps, from fatal accidents to training incidents.",
  "key_points": [
    "U.S. Army grounds Apache training flights after Salado crash.",
    "Two soldiers killed, pilot identities released.",
    "Crash follows series of recent Apache mishaps."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}