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A look at the Apache helicopter's safety record

Since 2000, there have been a total of 12 military accidents in the U.S. involving Apache helicopters. The accidents claimed the lives of 20 servicemen.

SEABROOK, Texas -- The Apache helicopter is undoubtedly one of the U.S. military's most trusted and reliable aircraft, but not one without a history of accidents.

In December 2015, Kevin Weiss and Alex Caraballoleon were killed in Tennessee when the Apache helicopter they were flying crashed during a routine training flight at night. The investigation into that crash is still pending.

Two weeks prior to that deadly crash, an Apache helicopter crashed in South Korea. That accident claimed the lives of Americans Jason McCormack and Brandon Smith. Early reports indicated the helicopter may have struck a wire or tower. But the cause of the crash is still under investigation.

That same year, the Army ordered a five-day stand down of military aircraft at 11 posts across the United States to conduct safety reviews.

Since 2000, there have been a total of 12 military accidents in the U.S. involving Apache helicopters. The accidents claimed the lives of 20 servicemen.

That number now includes Dustin Lee Mortenson and Lucas Lowe, the two fathers and husbands killed when their Apache helicopter crashed in Galveston Bay. A team of exports working to recover every piece of that aircraft now to figure out exactly what went wrong.

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