US Army attack helicopters crashing at historically high rate amid mechanical issues
- US Army Apache helicopters are crashing at a historically high rate, with five major incidents reported in fiscal year 2026, putting the year on pace to be the second worst for accidents since the AH-64 model was introduced in 2011.
- Internal Army safety messages identified 80 potentially faulty transmissions in the E-model Apache, prompting groundings earlier this year. Boeing has deployed maintenance teams to assist with inspections and repairs as the root cause remains under investigation.
- Army data estimates a major Apache crash rate of approximately 6.24 per 100,000 flying hours, with Class A mishaps defined as incidents causing at least $2.5 million in damage or loss of life. Fiscal year 2024 recorded 7.02 crashes per 100,000 hours by comparison.
- A deadly crash earlier this month in Texas killed two soldiers and sparked a wildfire, prompting the Army to temporarily pause routine training flights. The service announced on Wednesday that this pause, which exempted units deployed to the Middle East, has ended.
- Army spokesperson Montrell Russell said "special controls and release protections" prevent disclosure of detailed technical information, including how many crashes relate to transmission issues. The Army and Boeing have not answered questions about identifying the faulty parts.
18 Articles
18 Articles
U.S. Army Apache helicopters are suffering accidents at a historically high rate due to a widespread problem with transmission...
Five Major Apache Crashes Raise Fresh Army Safety Concerns
The US Army Apache attack helicopters are experiencing a sharp rise in major crashes, with mechanical problems involving their transmissions emerging as a significant concern, according to a CNN analysis of military accident data. Five major Apache crashes have occurred since October, including a deadly Texas crash this month that killed two soldiers. The Army temporarily suspended routine Apache training flights following the incident before li…
US Army attack helicopters crashing at historically high rate amid mechanical issues
The US Army’s Apache helicopters are crashing at a historically high rate amid a widespread problem with the model’s transmission, according to a CNN analysis of military accident data.
US Army Apache Helicopter Crashes: Attack Helicopters Crash At Historically High Rate amid Widespread Transmission Problems; 5 Major Mishaps Reported In 2026
Five major Apache crashes have been recorded since October, including a deadly incident in Texas earlier this month that killed two soldiers and sparked a wildfire. The crash prompted the US Army to temporarily restrict Apache pilots from conducting routine training flights. The post US Army Apache Helicopter Crashes: Attack Helicopters Crash At Historically High Rate amid Widespread Transmission Problems; 5 Major Mishaps Reported In 2026 appear…
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