President Donald Trump confirmed Monday that two U.S. Army aviators are in good condition after their AH-64 Apache helicopter went down near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. The crash occurred while the aircraft was on a patrol mission in regional waters, according to U.S. Central Command (Centcom).
The two crew members were rescued within two hours of the incident off the coast of Oman. A joint operation led by U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and the 82nd Airborne Division, with support from Air Force and Navy units, extracted the pilots. Trump, speaking to reporters at John F. Kennedy International Airport after attending Game 3 of the NBA Finals, said, “The pilots are fine. Yeah. Nobody injured. We are going to issue a report tomorrow. But the pilots are fine.”
The cause of the crash is under investigation, Centcom said in a statement. Apache helicopters have been a linchpin of the U.S. naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, which aims to interdict cargo vessels carrying Iranian crude oil. The United Arab Emirates has also deployed Apaches to shoot down Iranian drones in the area.
This is the second rescue of U.S. service members in the ongoing Middle East conflict, which recently surpassed 100 days. In April, two F-15E Strike Eagle crew members were rescued after Iranian anti-aircraft missiles downed their jet.
The incident comes as the fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire, in place since April, faces renewed strain. A tentative deal between Washington and Tehran, still pending final approval, was jeopardized Sunday when Israel launched strikes on suburbs in southern Beirut. Iran retaliated by firing ballistic missiles at northern Israel, which the Israeli Defense Forces intercepted. Israeli officials called for a devastating counterattack, but Trump ordered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold off, while Iran also refrained from further strikes.
On Monday, Trump said both countries were “looking to do an immediate CEASEFIRE!” In a post on Truth Social, he wrote, “Final negotiations on ‘Peace’ are proceeding, subject to ignorance or stupidity getting in its way. The Blockade will remain in place, and in full force and effect, until a ‘Final Deal’ is reached.” He added, “Things should move quickly.”
The 100-day mark of the Iran conflict has intensified political pressure on Trump, who is balancing a hardline blockade strategy with efforts to broker a lasting peace. The president’s demand for restraint from Netanyahu echoes earlier tensions, as seen when Netanyahu ordered a strike on Iran hours after Trump demanded restraint.
Meanwhile, the administration continues to face scrutiny over its handling of intelligence and foreign policy. The president’s recent appointment of a new intelligence chief has sparked controversy, with House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries blocking FISA renewal unless Trump removes Pulte as intel chief.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
