An Army Apache helicopter crashed in a central Texas field on Wednesday, killing both people on board and sparking a wildfire that forced several homes to be evacuated, a sheriff’s official said.
Officials from nearby Fort Hood announced that the AH-64 Apache helicopter had crashed. Cliff Coleman, spokesman for the Bell County Sheriff’s office confirmed that both occupants died.
A military official tells the Associated Press that the crashed Apache was out on a routine training flight when it went down. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a developing situation.
No cause of the crash was immediately announced. Fort Hood’s criminal investigation division was leading the crash investigation, Coleman said.
Fort Hood is a massive base with 214,968 acres (336 square miles) that is used to train and deploy heavy forces. The Army says the rolling, arid terrain around the base provides an ideal training ground.
In November 2015, four soldiers were killed when a Black Hawk helicopter crashed during a training exercise. And nine Fort Hood soldiers died in 2016 when a rain-swollen creek swept their vehicle into rushing waters.
The helicopter did not hit any homes or other structures when it crashed, Coleman said.
“You could tell it was a violent crash,” Coleman said. Photographs from the scene showed firefighters walking around a charred field as plumes of dark smoke rose from flames still burning in the wreckage.
“Our immediate priority is securing the site and supporting the initial response efforts,” said Brig. Gen. Ethan Diven, acting commanding general. "Our thoughts are with the crew and their families as we await further information.”
The AH-64 Apache attack helicopter has been a key part of the military’s fleet since the first versions were deployed in 1984. The Apache crew sits behind each other with the pilot in the rear and the co-pilot gunner in the front position.
AP writers Konstantin Toropin and Josh Funk contributed reporting.
A tanker aircraft dumps fire retardant on a field southwest of Salado, Texas, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, after a military helicopter crashed and sparked a grass fire. (Brent Johnson/The Killeen Daily Herald via AP)
IRVINE, Calif. (AP) — Gretchen Walsh won the women's 50-meter butterfly over teammate Kate Douglass to lead a trio of 1-2 finishes by the United States on opening night of the Pan Pacific Championships on Wednesday.
Walsh touched in 24.65 seconds, bettering her time of 24.91 from the morning preliminaries at the outdoor pool in Irvine, California. Douglass became the third woman to break the 25-second barrier in the event with a prelim time of 24.99. In the final, she finished second at 25.06.
Walsh was already in the sub-25 club, with the American record of 24.51 seconds. The other member is Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden, who holds the world record of 24.43 seconds.
Canada's Taylor Ruck took bronze in 25.23 in the first Pan Pacs held since 2018.
The once-every-four-years event was canceled in 2022 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s event was moved from Canada to Southern California to give the region a major international meet ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where swimming will be held at SoFi Stadium in front of nearly 40,000 spectators.
American teammates Katharine Berkoff and world record holder Regan Smith finished 1-2 in the women's 100-meter backstroke. Berkoff won in 57.93 seconds. Smith was second in 58.11, slower than the time of 57.86 she swam in prelims.
Ruck earned her second bronze of the night with a time of 58.40.
With 28-time Olympic medalist Michael Phelps looking on, U.S. teammates Luke Hobson and Gabriel Jett finished 1-2 in the men's 200 freestyle.
Hobson touched first in 1:43.85 with a stunned Jett second in a personal-best 1:43.96. Zhang Zhanshuo of China was third.
Lani Pallister of Australia won the women's 200 free in a course-record 1:53.67, beating Canada's Summer McIntosh, who was second at 1:53.86. Erika Fairweather of New Zealand was third.
Ben Armbruster of Australia won the men's 50 fly in 22.75 seconds over Van Mathias of the U.S.
The Pan Pacs limit each nation to just two swimmers in every championship final as a way to ensure greater representation among countries. That means swimmers can’t afford to ease through the morning prelims since a full-on effort could be required to make the evening final.
AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports
Summer McIntosh, of Canada, competes in the women's 200-meter freestyle final at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Lani Pallister, of Australia, celebrates after winning the women's 200-meter freestyle final at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Gretchen Walsh, of the United States, competes in the women's 50-meter butterfly final at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Michael Phelps attends the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Gretchen Walsh, of the United States, celebrates after winning the women's 50-meter butterfly final at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
