The U.S. Army identified the two Fort Hood helicopter pilots who were killed when their AH-64 Apache crashed during a maintenance test flight in central Texas on Friday. The pilots were Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey, 34, of Killeen, Texas, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Taylor J. Mitchell, 32, of [hometown], according to officials.
The helicopter went down in a rural area near Belton, Texas, around [time] on [date]. The cause of the crash is under investigation, the Army said. Both pilots were assigned to the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, at Fort Hood.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of these two aviators,” said [name], a spokesperson for the 1st Cavalry Division. “Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and fellow soldiers during this difficult time.”
The crash occurred during a routine maintenance test flight, which is conducted to ensure the aircraft is airworthy after maintenance work. The Army has launched a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the accident.
Fort Hood, now known as Fort Cavazos, is one of the largest military installations in the world, home to the 1st Cavalry Division and other units. The loss of the two pilots is a significant blow to the military community.
