UPDATE: Helicopter crash that killed two soldiers near Salado was a 'maintenance test flight,' Fort Hood official confirms

SALADO, Texas (KWTX) - A Fort Hood official confirmed the military helicopter crash that killed two soldiers near Salado, Texas, on Wednesday afternoon was a "maintenance test flight." Fort Hood confirmed the aircraft was one of its AH-64 Apach [CBS7]

A Fort Hood Apache attack helicopter crashed in a rural area near Salado on Wednesday afternoon, resulting in the deaths of both military personnel aboard the aircraft.

The incident occurred when emergency dispatchers received a call just after 1:30 p.m. reporting a visible plume of smoke and a possible aircraft going down. The twin-rotor AH-64 Apache came to rest in a pasture near Dove Hollow Lane. Fort Hood representatives later clarified the aircraft had been engaged in a scheduled maintenance evaluation flight at the time of the accident. The two soldiers were pronounced deceased at 2:30 p.m.

The impact and subsequent fire created a significant emergency response across Bell County. Farm to Market Road 2843 remained closed for several hours as first responders accessed the crash site. Sheriff's officials characterized the collision as forceful, with the wreckage and resulting flames visible from considerable distances.

The downed helicopter ignited vegetation across the surrounding acreage, and the fire spread rapidly through dry brush and grassland. Firefighting crews worked to contain the blaze, which ultimately covered approximately 155 acres before containment efforts took effect.

By Thursday afternoon, Bell County Sheriff Cliff Coleman addressed media during a briefing, indicating crews had achieved complete containment of the grassfire. Coleman clarified that containment—establishing a perimeter—differs from full control, where all flames are extinguished. He expected complete suppression by Sunday evening.

Five residences near the fire's path were evacuated as a precaution due to proximity to active flames. Coleman confirmed all five homes were preserved without structural damage despite the nearby wildfire activity.