Folks, I’m sipping my coffee and reading about the latest news from the US Army, and I’ve got to say, it’s a bit of a shocker. The Army has temporarily halted all Apache helicopter training flights after a crash near Fort Hood, Texas, killed two soldiers. I mean, you don’t expect to hear about military training exercises going wrong, especially not with the advanced tech we have nowadays. The crash happened this week, and the Army is still trying to figure out what went wrong.
The Army said in a statement that they’re directing a temporary stand-down of AH64 Apache training flight operations until they have a better understanding of the root cause of the accident. Makes sense, right? I mean, you don’t want to risk any more lives while you’re still investigating what happened. Investigators from the Army Combat Readiness Center in Fort Rucker, Alabama, arrived at the crash scene on Thursday and will lead the investigation.
Now, I’m no expert, but the AH-64 Apache is an attack helicopter with seats for two crew members: the pilot in the rear of the aircraft and the co-pilot and gunner in the front. It’s a pretty advanced piece of machinery, with the ability to carry 16 Hellfire missiles, 76 aerial rockets, and 1,200 rounds for its 30 mm gun. The Army website says it’s “highly mobile, lethal, and can destroy armor, personnel, and materiel targets in obscured battlefield conditions at ranges out to 8 kms (5 miles).” That’s some serious firepower.
The two soldiers who were killed in the crash were Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre Huey, 34, and Warrant Officer Seth Olmstead, 25. They were both part of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division at the base. Lt. Gen. Kevin Admiral, Fort Hood commanding general, said in a statement, “Our hearts and deepest condolences are with the families of the Soldiers we lost Wednesday. The Army is a family, and a tragedy like this is felt throughout our formations and our community.”
The Apache helicopter has been upgraded and modernized since it was first introduced in 1984, and it’s slated to keep flying until 2050. That’s a long time, folks, and I’m sure the Army will do everything they can to prevent something like this from happening again. Somewhere in Atlanta, a producer thought this sounded terrifying, and now we’ve got a big story on our hands.
In conclusion, it’s a sad day when we lose soldiers in training exercises, and I’m sure the Army will do everything they can to figure out what went wrong and prevent it from happening again. The Apache helicopter is an impressive piece of machinery, but it’s only as good as the people flying it. As I finish my coffee, I’m reminded that even with the most advanced tech, human error can still occur. And that’s a sobering thought, folks.
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
