A U.S. Military AH-64 Apache has crashed close to the Strait of Hormuz for unknown causes, with the crew rescued safely in response to President Trump.
A U.S. Military AH-64 Apache assault helicopter went down close to the Strait of Hormuz on June 8, 2026. The information was first reported by The New York Instances, citing two folks briefed on the incident, who talked about that the 2 crew members had been rescued.
U.S. President Donald Trump, requested in regards to the incident earlier than boarding Air Drive One, stated the 2 crew members “are fantastic” and “no one [was] injured,” in response to Reuters. An announcement from the Pentagon or the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) isn’t accessible.
The causes of the incident are nonetheless unknown, with the NYT saying the incident is already underneath investigation. Reuters says that Trump was requested about this by reporters, to which he responded a report could be launched quickly.
That is the primary AH-64 Apache helicopters misplaced within the Center East because the begin of the hostilities with Iran. Notably, the incident occurred only a day after Israel and Iran stopped a brand new wave of assaults following a brand new escalation.
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CENTCOM has now launched a press release in regards to the incident, offering additional particulars in regards to the rescue:
At 7:33 p.m. ET on June 8, two crew members from a U.S. Military AH-64 Apache had been rescued by American forces after their helicopter went down close to the coast of Oman whereas patrolling regional waters.
The Troopers had been safely rescued inside roughly two hours and are in steady situation. The reason for the incident is underneath investigation.
Rescue efforts had been led by U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and the 82nd Airborne Division, with help from U.S. Air Drive and Navy items together with U.S. fifth Fleet’s Job Drive 59.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 9, 2026
Apaches over the Strait of Hormuz
U.S. Apache helicopters have been working over the world for months now. CENTCOM additionally launched some pictures displaying the AH-64s flying a patrol in April, “offering a visual presence in help of freedom of navigation.” Earlier, Common Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers, stated Apaches had been searching one-way assault drones in the identical space.
In Might, U.S. Navy MH-60 Sea Hawk and U.S. Military AH-64 Apache helicopters had been used to sink six Iranian small assault boats. The boats had been reportedly threatening business transport within the Strait of Hormuz, in response to Adm. Brad Cooper, head of CENTCOM.
No different particulars had been offered concerning the U.S. assault and it’s unclear if the MH-60s and AH-64s had been working collectively or in the event that they had been concerned in separate incidents. The Navy’s and Military’s helicopter are flying armed patrol missions over the world, and each sorts had been seen carrying AGM-114 Hellfire missiles.
Alongside quick jets, the AH-64 could be very effectively fitted to such maritime patrol missions. In truth, the platform combines persistence, exact sensors and a versatile weapons combine that enable it to counter quick watercraft in addition to OWA drones that could be launched in opposition to oil tankers and ships in a crowded littoral atmosphere.
As current U.S. Military counter-UAS demonstrations have proven, the AH-64E can detect, observe and defeat drones with a number of weapons, together with the 30 mm M230 chain gun, APKWS-guided 70 mm rockets, HELLFIRE variants and even JAGM. This gives crews scalable choices relying on vary, goal measurement and collateral-risk issues.
The helicopter can also be effectively geared up on the sensor facet, pairing electro-optical and infrared sights with the mast-mounted AN/APG-78 Longbow radar, which is designed to quickly detect, classify and prioritize giant numbers of contacts. Within the Strait of Hormuz, the place threats could embody small one-way assault drones, quick assault craft and different fleeting, hard-to-sort targets, that mixture makes the Apache a reputable hunter-killer platform.
