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U.S. Army grounds Apache training after deadly Texas crash
🇺🇸 United States /Conflict & Security

U.S. Army grounds Apache training after deadly Texas crash

From PBS NewsHour · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • The U.S. Army has temporarily halted all Apache helicopter training missions following a fatal crash in Texas earlier this week that killed two soldiers.
  • An investigation into the cause of the crash is underway, with a safety investigation team examining the incident.
  • The Army has previously grounded aviation units after crashes, and combat missions in Iran are not affected by this stand-down.

The U.S. Army has grounded all Apache helicopter training missions following a fatal crash in Texas that claimed the lives of two soldiers earlier this week. The Army announced the temporary halt on Friday, stating it will remain in effect until the root cause of the accident is better understood.

An investigation into the crash, which occurred Wednesday, is currently in its early stages. A safety investigation team from the Army Combat Readiness Center in Fort Rucker, Alabama, is tasked with determining what happened. No cause has been released pending the completion of the investigation.

The stand-down will remain in effect until we have a better understanding of the root cause of the accident

— U.S. ArmyStatement explaining the temporary halt of Apache helicopter training missions.

This is not the first time the Army has taken such a measure. Three years ago, all aviation units were grounded after 12 soldiers died in separate crashes in Alaska and Kentucky. The current stand-down specifically affects training missions and does not include combat operations, such as those involving Apache helicopters employed near the Strait of Hormuz to maintain open navigation channels.

Our hearts and deepest condolences are with the families of the Soldiers we lost Wednesday

— Lt. Gen. Kevin D. AdmiralExpressing sympathy following the fatal helicopter crash.

The two soldiers killed in the Texas crash were identified as Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey, 34, of Killeen, Texas, and Warrant Officer Seth L. Olmstead, 25, of Belton, Texas. They were the sole occupants of the helicopter when it crashed in a grassy field near Salado. Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral expressed condolences to the families, emphasizing the Army's sense of family and shared grief.

Aviation safety expert John Cox praised the Army's decision, calling it a proactive move that prioritizes safety. He noted that grounding operations until clear answers are found is a responsible approach. The National Transportation Safety Board has previously criticized the Army's safety culture, citing concerns raised during the investigation of a 2025 collision between a Black Hawk helicopter and an airplane near Washington, D.C.

I am very much glad to see them doing that. It says that they're being proactive

— John CoxAn aviation safety expert commenting on the Army's decision to halt training.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by PBS NewsHour in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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