Dbarta24 International Desk — Two U.S. service members lost their lives on Wednesday when an Apache attack helicopter crashed near Salado, Texas, military officials confirmed.
According to an official statement from Fort Hood, the fatal incident involved an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter operating in the Salado area.
Emergency responders alongside Fort Hood personnel immediately secured the crash site to handle recovery operations and secure the perimeter.
“Fort Hood personnel are on the scene and coordinating closely with local emergency service agencies,” the military authority stated.
Military officials have not yet disclosed the exact nature of the mission or training exercise the helicopter was conducting at the time of the crash.
Furthermore, the identities of the two fallen service members are being withheld pending the notification of their next of kin, adhering to standard military protocols.
An official investigation into the cause of the crash is expected to follow.
Military aviation incidents have drawn increased scrutiny recently. The Texas tragedy follows a separate high-profile accident roughly two months ago, when a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber crashed in California, resulting in the deaths of all eight crew members aboard.