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A U.S. military attack helicopter slammed into a Central Texas field and caught fire, killing the two pilots aboard and forcing evacuations in the area, CNN reported citing local authorities.
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.
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 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.