Trump Says ‘Pilots Are Fine’ After U.S. Army Apache Helicopter Goes Down Near Strait of Hormuz
President Donald Trump said Monday night that both pilots are safe after a U.S. Army Apache attack helicopter went down near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical oil shipping lanes. The incident adds to a growing list of U.S. aircraft losses since the outbreak of hostilities with Iran earlier this year.
Speaking to reporters after attending the NBA Finals in New York, Trump responded to a question about the incident by stating, “The pilots are fine, nobody injured.” He declined to provide further details but said an official report would be released “tomorrow.”
The New York Times first reported the crash on Monday, citing unnamed officials. The report said the Apache gunship went down under unclear circumstances and that both crew members had to be rescued. The cause of the crash remains unknown, and U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, has not yet commented on the incident.
The loss of the Apache comes amid a sharp escalation of hostilities over the weekend, when Iran and Israel exchanged direct strikes for the first time in months. The Strait of Hormuz has been a flashpoint throughout the conflict, with both Iranian and U.S. forces conducting patrols and interdictions in the area.
Apaches have been used extensively by U.S. forces in the region, including for precision strikes against Iranian small boats as part of the American naval blockade of Iranian ports. According to U.S. Central Command, the helicopter is primarily employed for close air support, air reconnaissance, and precision attacks.
If confirmed, this would be the first Apache helicopter lost since the U.S. military campaign against Iran began in late February. A Congressional Research Service report from May lists at least five fighter jets, seven KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft, one search-and-rescue helicopter, and more than two dozen drones as having been lost in the conflict so far.
Earlier incidents include a risky covert operation in early April in which U.S. special operations forces had to rescue an F-15E Strike Eagle pilot shot down inside Iran. During that mission, the military intentionally destroyed two of its own special operations aircraft on the ground in Iran to prevent them from falling into enemy hands.
In March, a KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in western Iraq, killing all six crew members. Days earlier, three U.S. F-15 fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses; all crew members ejected safely.
Several other aircraft have been damaged by Iranian strikes on a U.S. airbase in Saudi Arabia, while others sustained damage from Iranian fire while in flight.
The Apache crash near the Strait of Hormuz underscores the persistent risks U.S. forces face as the conflict grinds on, with both sides maintaining a high operational tempo and the potential for further accidents or hostile engagements.
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