A military attack helicopter slammed into a Central Texas field and caught fire on Wednesday, killing the two pilots aboard and forcing evacuations in the area.

The Apache helicopter from the Fort Hood military installation crashed in Salado, Texas, around 1:35 p.m. local time, and the two pilots on board were confirmed dead, said Cliff Coleman, a spokesperson for the Bell County Sheriff’s Office.

The AH-64 Apache, which was based at Fort Hood, is an attack helicopter with seats for two crew members: the pilot in the rear of the aircraft and the co-pilot and gunner in the front, according to the US Army.

Crews responded to a large, uncontrolled wildfire sparked by the crash, and evacuations were in place, Coleman said. The blaze has burned about 100 acres and was 45% contained by 5 p.m. local time, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service Incident Viewer. 

The helicopter did not hit any structures or people, Coleman said.

“It crashed into a field, and you could tell it was a violent crash,” he said. 

The helicopter did not hit any structures or people, Coleman said.

“It crashed into a field, and you could tell it was a violent crash,” he said. 

"Our immediate priority is securing the site and supporting the initial response efforts,” Brig. Gen. Ethan Diven, acting commanding general, said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the crew and their families as we await further information.”

The unidentified soldiers were taken to Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, Fort Hood officials said in an updated statement.

The victims will be identified 24 hours after their next of kin has been notified, the statement noted.

It was unclear where the helicopter was coming from or where it was headed.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott offered his condolences on X following the deaths of the two pilots.

“Join Cecilia and me in prayer for their families and the entire Fort Hood community. Texas is forever indebted to those who serve our state and nation,” the governor said in the post.

The four-bladed helicopter can carry 16 Hellfire missiles, 76 aerial rockets, and 1,200 rounds for its 30 mm gun.

Apaches have been upgraded and modernized since the aircraft was first introduced in 1984, and they are slated to keep flying until 2050. 

“It is highly mobile, lethal, and can destroy armor, personnel, and materiel targets in obscured battlefield conditions at ranges out to 8 kms (5 miles),” the Army said on its website. “With the addition of improved situational awareness, flight performance, and joint interoperability, the AH-64E has become the most advanced aerial fighting vehicle in the world.” 

Source: CNN