A two-seater AH-64 helicopter crashed during a pilot training session in Alabama, killing a flight instructor and injuring a student.
The accident took place on the afternoon of August 7, 2024, at Fort Novosel army base, about 94 miles (151 kilometers) south of Montgomery. Fort Novosel is a central facility, providing Army aviation training to pilots, as well as aviation maintenance personnel and officers.
The crash killed the flight instructor, a 46-year-old retired army member, who was operating the Apache AH-64 twin helicopter during a routine flying lesson. The student suffered minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital.
“Our primary concern is the welfare and health of the student pilot and care and concern for the family of the deceased,” Clair Gill, Commanding General of the United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Novosel, commented to local media.
The exact cause of the crash remains unclear. However, officials believe wind gusts may have been the reason behind it.
The US Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Novosel has confirmed that it will be investigating the case.