Army helicopter crashes are on the rise.
There have been five major crashes of Apache plans since October, according to CNN’s analysis of military accident data, representing the second-highest number of crashes since the military launched the new model of the AH-64 in 2011.
Since 2011, the military has used a fleet of around 820-840 AH-64 Apache helicopters, manufactured by Boeing, to destroy enemy armor, provide close air support for ground troops, and conduct armed reconnaissance.
The military has used these planes in missions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Libya. Maintaining their safety is of critical importance to support the safety of those on board, as well as the efficacy of military operations.
The New Data
CNN found that, this year, the Apache’s crash rate has been around 6.24 per every 100,000 flying hours.
Citing internal safety messages that Military.com has not verified, CNN said Apache planes that the Army uses have seen problems with its transmission, electrical power and hydraulics this year. Losing these systems can put helicopters into a sudden spin and knock out its flight controls, the publication reported.
In Fiscal Year 2024—the year in which there were the most helicopter crashes—there were nine major Apache crashes, amounting to a crash rate of 7.02 major crashes per 100,000 flying hours.
These crashes triggered the Army to order special safety training initiatives. They said these crashes were due to human error and a lack of experience in pilots responding to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Recent Helicopter Crashes
The new analysis comes after a series of reports of recent crashes of military aircraft.
Eight people—two pilots and six passengers—died after a Cessna 441 charter aircraft crashed at a remote radar site on Aug. 20 in western Alaska.
The crash, involving a different type of helicopter from the Apache, happened around 12:15 p.m. local time near Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site Airport, roughly 450 miles west of Anchorage, Alaska.
An AH-64 Apache helicopter crashed Aug. 12 in Salado, Texas, roughly 30 miles south-east of Fort Hood army base, according to the U.S. Army Fort Hood Media Center.
The crash caused the death of the two pilots on board, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Deontre T. Huey, 34, and Warrant Officer Seth L. Omstead, 25, both assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division.
As a result of the crash, the Army temporarily paused AH-64 Apache training operations. It resumed them this past Wednesday, “after a thorough review of safety procedures and flight operations.”
The cause of that crash is still under investigation.
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