Fort Hood Identifies Two Pilots Killed In Salado Apache Helicopter Crash

The US Army has identified two pilots killed when an AH-64E Apache helicopter crashed during a training exercise near Salado, Texas, on Wednesday. The soldiers were identified as Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey, 34, of Killeen, Texas, and Warrant Officer Seth L. Olmstead, 25, of Belton, Texas. Both were assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division’s 1st Air Cavalry Brigade and were killed when the military helicopter went down in a field near Salado.

Huey joined the US Army in 2014 as a motor transport operator before moving into aviation. He was assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, in February 2022. His death marks the loss of a soldier who had served in the Army for more than a decade. He was from Killeen, which is located near Fort Hood, the major US Army installation where his unit is based.

Olmstead, 25, was a native of Belton, Texas. He entered the Army in January 2023 as a warrant officer candidate and was assigned to the aviation unit in October 2025. Like Huey, he was serving with the 1st Cavalry Division’s 1st Air Cavalry Brigade at the time of the crash. The two soldiers were operating the Apache helicopter as part of a military training exercise when the aircraft went down near Salado.

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The crash occurred roughly 30 minutes from Fort Hood and triggered a wildfire, prompting a major emergency response in the area. Emergency crews responded to the crash site as authorities secured the area and dealt with the resulting fire. The US Army has launched an investigation into the accident, while a safety investigation team from the US Army Combat Readiness Center at Fort Rucker, Alabama, arrived on August 13 to lead the inquiry.

The cause of the crash has not been disclosed. Investigators are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the training flight, the aircraft and other factors that may have contributed to the accident. The Army has not indicated that any other personnel were killed in the incident. The investigation is expected to determine what led to the Apache helicopter going down during the exercise.

Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral, commander of III Armored Corps and Fort Hood, expressed condolences to the families of Huey and Olmstead following their deaths. He said the military community would feel the loss of the two soldiers and that resources would be made available to support their families and fellow service members. The investigation will continue as Fort Hood and the Army mourn the two pilots killed in the training accident.

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