President Trump said an AH-64 Apache that crashed into the sea while patrolling the Strait of Hormuz was shot down by Iran and promised a U.S. response. Two aviators were rescued and are in stable condition after being recovered by an unmanned surface drone in what U.S. officials described as the first sea-drone rescue. U.S. military authorities say initial reports point to an Iranian drone but investigators are still determining intent and cause. The incident adds strain to an already tense regional environment involving Iran, Israel and Hezbollah.
Trump Says Iran Shot Down U.S. Apache Near Strait Of Hormuz — Pilots Recovered In First-Ever Sea-Drone Rescue
This file image shows an Army AH-64 Apache helicopter on May 26, 2016. / Credit: Airman 1st Class Sean Carnes/Defense Department
President Donald Trump said Tuesday that an AH-64 Apache helicopter that went down in the sea on Monday was shot down by Iran while conducting a patrol over the Strait of Hormuz, and he vowed that the United States would respond to the attack.
U.S. officials told CBS News that early reports indicate an Iranian drone may have brought down the Apache, though one official cautioned it remains unclear whether the drone intentionally targeted the helicopter. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Rescue Operation
Both crew members were recovered from the water by an unmanned surface vessel operated by Task Force 59, part of the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. U.S. officials described the operation as the first time a sea drone has been used to recover personnel in a U.S. military rescue. The surface drone transported the aviators to a nearby location where they were hoisted aboard a helicopter for further medical evaluation.
The two U.S. Army aviators had been patrolling waters off the coast of Oman when the Apache went down. They were pulled from the sea at approximately 7:30 p.m. Eastern on Monday, roughly two hours after the aircraft entered the water. CENTCOM later said both soldiers were in stable condition and reiterated that the incident remains under investigation, posting its update on X (formerly Twitter).
Regional Context
The incident occurred amid heightened regional tensions, including recent exchanges between Iran and Israel and ongoing confrontations with Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iranian state media reported the crash but largely echoed foreign coverage without adding new information. The New York Times was among the first outlets to report that a U.S. helicopter had gone down near the Strait of Hormuz.
Outlook
U.S. leaders have signaled a response may follow President Trump's assertion that Iran shot down the aircraft, while military and intelligence teams continue to assess the evidence to determine what happened and whether the helicopter was deliberately targeted.
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