The Army has identified the pilot killed in Wednesday’s helicopter crash as Chief Warrant Officer 2 Dustin K. Wright, a decorated Apache pilot assigned to the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
Wright, 40, was one of two soldiers aboard an AH-64 Apache helicopter when it went down during a routine training mission on June 11. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The other pilot’s condition has not been released.
The 101st Airborne Division confirmed the Apache was conducting a “routine attack aviation training mission” at the time of the accident. The incident occurred just days before the Army’s 249th birthday, though officials clarified the mission was not related to any ceremonial event. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Originally enlisting in 2010, Wright began his career as an infantryman, serving in the 82nd Airborne Division where he reached the rank of sergeant. His transition to warrant officer and Army aviator reflects a path many soldiers take to remain in operational roles while advancing their careers.
Wright’s awards and decorations include the Air Medal with “C” Device, Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Expert Infantryman Badge, and the Army Aviator Badge, among others. He had been stationed at Fort Campbell since May 2022.
He is survived by his wife, Omaira Wright, whom he married in 2023.
“My forever and always, the love of my life. My friend, my partner, and my protector,” she wrote in a heartfelt tribute on social media.
Wright’s death marks the second fatal training incident this month for the 101st Airborne Division. On June 5, Sgt. Aaron Cox, 24, of the 2nd Mobile Brigade Combat Team, died in a vehicle accident during Exercise Saber Guardian in Hungary.
As the Army continues its investigation into the Apache crash, the Fort Campbell community once again finds itself mourning the loss of one of its own. CW2 Dustin Wright’s legacy—as both a grunt and a pilot—leaves a lasting impression on the soldiers he served with and the loved ones he leaves behind.
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