AH-64 Apache Helicopter: CENTCOM Said The Two Soldiers Were Patrolling Waters Off The Coast Of Oman When The Crash Occurred And Were In Stable Condition After Recovery, While The Cause Of The Incident Remains Under Investigation And Trump Told Reporters At The NBA Finals “The Pilots Are Fine”
According to CBS News, the US military’s Central Command confirmed Tuesday that an AH-64 Apache helicopter crashed into the sea near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday June 8, and that both US Army crew members aboard were rescued — becoming the first soldiers ever saved by an unmanned surface drone in US military history.
The two US Army soldiers on the Apache had been patrolling waters off the coast of Oman when the crash happened. They were rescued at about 7:30 p.m. Eastern on Monday, within approximately two hours of their AH-64 Apache going down. Both were in stable condition.
Military officials told CBS News the pair were rescued by an unmanned surface drone operated by a special department called Task Force 59, based with the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. It was the first time a drone has been used for a water rescue, the officials said.
CENTCOM said they were “rescued by American forces,” but the command did not elaborate on the operation or immediately confirm that it was carried out using an unmanned vehicle, adding that “the cause of the incident is under investigation.”
President Trump, after attending Game Three of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, said “The pilots are fine. Nobody injured.” Iranian state media reported the crash but merely repeated foreign outlets’ reporting without adding any details.
A fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran seemed to be holding Tuesday after a dramatic escalation Sunday into Monday, with the two countries trading strikes.
To check out our previous coverage on the US-Iran war, Hormuz, and military operations, read our articles here.
