U.S. Army identifies Fort Hood helicopter pilots killed in Texas crash
Two U.S. Army pilots were killed when an Apache attack helicopter from Fort Hood crashed in Texas. They were identified as Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey (right) and Warrant Officer Seth L. Olmstead (left). Photo courtesy of the U.S. Army
Aug. 14 (UPI) — The U.S. Army on Friday identified the two soldiers killed when an Apache attack helicopter from Fort Hood crashed in Texas.
The pilots were Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey and Warrant Officer Seth L. Olmstead, military officials said in a statement.
They died on Wednesday near Salado when the helicopter, an AH-64E Apache, “experienced a mishap” during a maintenance test flight.
“Our hearts and deepest condolences are with the families of the soldiers we lost Wednesday,” said Lt. Gen. Kevin D. Admiral, III Armored Corps and Fort Hood commanding general, in a statement.
“The Army is a family, and a tragedy like this is felt throughout our formations and our community,” Admiral added.
Huey and Olmstead were assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division.
Huey, 34 of Killeen, Texas, enlisted in the Army in February 2014 as a motor transport operator. He had been assigned to the unit since February 2022.
Olmstead, 25 of Belton, Texas, joined the Army in January 2024 as a warrant officer candidate. He had been assigned to the unit since October 2025.
The crash of the helicopter sparked a large wildfire in the area, forcing some local residents to evacuate.
Officials said the fire covered some 155 acres.
On Thursday, a safety investigation team from the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center in Fort Rucker, Alabama, arrived to lead the investigation into the incidents.