WASHINGTON — Two U.S. Army crew members were rescued by a sea drone after their Apache helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, U.S. military officials said.
The helicopter went down in waters near the strategically important waterway, according to U.S. Central Command. The crew was recovered by an uncrewed surface vessel operated by Task Force 59 within about two hours of the incident, Capt. Tim Hawkins, a U.S. Navy spokesperson, told reporters.
Both crew members were reported safe and uninjured. The rescue marked the first use of a sea drone for such an operation by the U.S. military, officials confirmed. The incident occurred amid heightened tensions in the region following recent exchanges between the United States and Iran.
President Donald Trump stated that Iran shot down the helicopter while it was on patrol. In a social media post, Trump said the U.S. would respond to the incident, according to reports from multiple outlets. U.S. forces later carried out strikes on Iranian targets in response, CENTCOM said.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. Details about the precise circumstances of the crash, including the exact cause, remained under investigation, officials said.
"The crew members are safe following the successful recovery operation," a CENTCOM statement said, as reported by news organizations.
Iran has not officially commented on the incident in detail, according to available reports. Regional tensions have escalated in recent months, with previous military actions involving U.S. and Iranian forces.
The Apache helicopter is a U.S. Army attack aircraft commonly used for reconnaissance and combat missions. The two crew members were the only personnel aboard at the time of the crash, military sources indicated.
Search and recovery efforts involved coordination between naval and other assets in the area. The sea drone, known as a Corsair or similar uncrewed surface vessel, demonstrated capabilities in maritime rescue scenarios, officials noted.
As of Tuesday, the rescued crew members were undergoing routine medical evaluations. Further updates on the investigation into the helicopter's loss and any additional operational details were expected in the coming days, according to Pentagon spokespeople. U.S. naval forces continued patrols in the region, officials said.
