WASHINGTON, August 24. /TASS/. The US Army has seen a significant number of Apache helicopter accidents since last October, which marks the start of fiscal year 2026, CNN reported.
The channel said that five major accidents occurred during the reported period, including a fatal crash that claimed the lives of two people on board and sparked a wildfire. A "major accident" is classified as a mishap that results in either: human casualties, permanent disabilities, total destruction of an aircraft, or losses exceeding $2.5 million.
The AH-64 Apache model was rolled out in 2011. In fiscal year 2024, it saw the most accidents - nine.
On August 14, the US Ground Forces stopped training flights of Apache helicopters, but resumed them on August 20. According to CNN, serious transmission issues were identified in 2024, which in some cases could knock out the aircraft’s tail rotor.