Army names two Fort Hood pilots killed in Apache helicopter crash near Salado
The U.S. Army on Friday identified the two pilots who died when an AH-64E Apache helicopter went down during a training exercise near Salado, Texas. They are Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey, 34, of Killeen…
Key takeaways
- The U.S. Army identified the two pilots killed in an AH-64E Apache helicopter crash during a training exercise near Salado, Texas as Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey, 34, and Warrant Officer Seth L. Olmstead, 25.
- Both pilots were assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood.
- The helicopter went down Wednesday roughly 30 minutes from Fort Hood, sparking a wildfire that required a large emergency response.
- A safety investigation team from the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center in Fort Rucker, Alabama, arrived at the crash site on August 13 and is leading the inquiry.
- The Army has not disclosed a cause and no findings have been released.
The U.S. Army on Friday identified the two pilots who died when an AH-64E Apache helicopter went down during a training exercise near Salado, Texas. They are Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey, 34, of Killeen, Texas, and Warrant Officer Seth L. Olmstead, 25, of Belton, Texas, both assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood.
The helicopter struck a field roughly 30 minutes from Fort Hood on Wednesday, sparking a wildfire that required a large emergency response from the surrounding area.
Huey entered the Army in 2014 as a motor transport operator. He was assigned to the 227th Aviation Regiment in February 2022. Olmstead entered in January 2023 as a warrant officer candidate and joined the same unit in October 2025.
Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral, commanding general of the III Armored Corps and Fort Hood, expressed condolences in a statement released Friday. "Our hearts and deepest condolences are with the families of the Soldiers we lost Wednesday," he said. Admiral described the loss as one felt across formations and the broader Fort Hood community. "In the difficult days ahead, our priority is to ensure these families and our Soldiers have the care and support they need," he added, confirming that all appropriate resources are being made available to those affected.
A safety investigation team from the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center in Fort Rucker, Alabama, arrived at the crash site on August 13 and is leading the inquiry. The Army has not disclosed a cause, and no findings have been released.