Two US Army soldiers were killed on Wednesday after an AH-64E Apache attack helicopter crashed in a rural area near Salado in Bell County, Texas, during a routine military operation, authorities said.

The helicopter, which was based at nearby Fort Hood, came down in an open field about 70 miles north of Austin. The crash triggered a large grass fire and briefly prompted authorities to evacuate residents from nearby areas as emergency crews worked to contain the blaze.

Officials said the identities of the two soldiers have not yet been released. The Army follows a standard notification procedure in which the next of kin are informed before the names of service members killed in an incident are made public.

Crash Reported Near Salado

Emergency services began receiving 911 calls shortly after 1:30 pm local time following reports that a military helicopter had gone down in a rural field.

First responders rushed to the crash site, where they found both crew members dead. The aircraft was identified as an AH-64E Apache, one of the US Army's principal attack helicopter variants.

The helicopter was operating from Fort Hood, a major US military installation in central Texas, when the crash occurred.

Authorities have not indicated that any other aircraft were involved in the incident.

Grass Fire Forces Evacuation

The impact caused a significant grass fire around the crash site. Flames spread through the surrounding field, prompting local authorities to temporarily evacuate nearby residential areas as a precaution.

Firefighters and aerial tanker aircraft were deployed to control the blaze. Emergency crews eventually contained and extinguished the fire.

Officials said no homes or other civilian structures were damaged in the incident.

Bell County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Cliff Coleman said Fort Hood personnel were working at the scene alongside local emergency responders.

Cause Still Unknown

The cause of the helicopter crash remains under investigation.

Military authorities have not yet determined whether mechanical problems, weather conditions, human factors or another issue contributed to the accident. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft wreckage, flight records, maintenance information and other evidence as part of the inquiry.

Brigadier General Ethan Diven, acting commanding general at Fort Hood, said the immediate priority was securing the crash site and assisting emergency responders.

"Our thoughts are with the crew and their families as we await further information," Diven said.

The investigation will also seek to establish the circumstances leading up to the helicopter's final moments and whether any technical or operational issues were reported before the crash.

Texas Governor Offers Condolences

Texas Governor Greg Abbott expressed condolences to the families of the two soldiers and the broader Fort Hood community following the crash.

"Texas is forever indebted to those who serve our state and nation," Abbott said.

The deaths add to a long history of military aviation accidents involving training and operational flights, where authorities typically conduct detailed safety investigations before drawing conclusions about the cause.

Army Launches Investigation

The US Army's Criminal Investigation Division, along with aviation safety and inspection teams, has launched a formal investigation into the crash.

Investigators are expected to secure and examine the crash site while collecting information from military personnel and emergency responders who arrived after the incident.

The identities of the two soldiers will be released after their families have been officially notified.

The crash comes as Fort Hood and other US Army installations continue routine aviation operations involving helicopters used for training, transport and combat readiness. Authorities have not suggested that the incident was connected to hostile activity.

The investigation is ongoing, and officials are expected to release further information as investigators establish what caused the Apache helicopter to crash.