Twin brother helicopter pilots deployed together in Afghanistan, months before AH-64D crash claimed two crew members
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Isaac Smith and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Stewart Smith were identical twins who both served as helicopter pilots for the US Army. Originally raised on a dairy farm in southeastern Idaho, the brothers joined the Army National Guard at 17 and served together in the Utah National Guard for four years before attending warrant officer candidate school and flight school at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
Isaac chose active duty service while Stewart remained with the Utah National Guard. However, both brothers deployed together to Afghanistan in summer 2019 with Task Force Mustang in support of Operation Resolute Support. This was the first time the twins had deployed together.
A Historic Flight
On August 31, 2019, Stewart, an AH-64D Apache helicopter pilot assigned to the 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment, had the opportunity to fly his brother in the Apache—a rare privilege. Isaac, an HH-60M Blackhawk helicopter pilot attached to the 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, seized the chance to cross off major bucket list items.
“I got to fly in an Apache. Two: I got to fly with my brother as the pilot for the first time,” Isaac said of the flight. The experience left him with greater appreciation for the Apache and its pilots. Stewart echoed the sentiment: “It was an awesome flight.”
Both twins held the rank of standardization pilots for their respective aircraft, mentoring and coaching other instructor pilots and managing training standards for their units. After his deployment, Isaac planned to retire from the military to pursue a career as an EMS pilot, while Stewart was set to resume his role with the Federal Aviation Administration and continue his service in the Utah Army National Guard.
Apache Crash in Logar Province
Months later, tragedy struck. On November 20, 2019, two crew members of a US Army AH-64D Apache helicopter were killed after their aircraft crashed in Logar Province, eastern Afghanistan, according to the Department of Defense.
“The cause of the crash [was] under investigation; however, preliminary reports [did] not indicate it was caused by enemy fire,” Resolute Support stated. Initial reports suggested the Apache’s rotors clipped a mountain ridge in the region.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for shooting down a CH-47 Chinook in Logar Province, but a Resolute Support spokesperson rejected the claim. “[There is] no indication at this time the helicopter was shot down,” the spokesperson told The Defense Post. The service members’ names were withheld in accordance with US Defense Department policy until 24 hours after their next of kin were notified.
Other Incidents
This crash followed another significant helicopter accident in Afghanistan. In May 2019, a CH-47F Chinook was completely destroyed after a crash landing in Helmand Province. Both Afghan and US personnel were injured during the incident, which involved no hostile fire or enemy contact, according to Colonel David Butler, spokesman for US Forces Afghanistan.
The US military operates several helicopter types in Afghanistan, including the Chinook, the AH-64 Apache, and the UH-60 Black Hawk.
