US President Donald Trump said that the pilots of a US Army Apache attack helicopter that went down near the Strait of Hormuz are “safe” and suffered no injuries.
“The pilots are fine, nobody injured,” Trump told reporters in New York after attending Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
He added that a report on the incident involving the Apache helicopter gunship would be released “tomorrow” but did not provide further details.
The helicopter’s loss was first reported by The New York Times, which said a US Army AH-64 Apache gunship went down near the strategically vital waterway on Monday.
The cause of the incident remains unclear, and officials have not said whether the aircraft was brought down by hostile fire, suffered a mechanical failure, or encountered another problem.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees American military operations in the Middle East, had not publicly commented on the incident.
The Apache helicopter is a key asset of US military operations in the Middle East, serving in roles that include precision strikes, close air support, and air reconnaissance, according to the Central Command website.
The gunship has also been used as part of efforts to counter Iran’s disruption of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
If confirmed, it would be the first loss of an Apache since the conflict with Iran began.
According to a Congressional Research Service report released in May, the US military has lost dozens of aircraft, including at least five fighter jets, seven Stratotanker refuelling aircraft, a search-and-rescue helicopter and more than two dozen drones since the war with Iran began in late February.
In early April, the US military had to launch a risky operation to rescue one of the pilots of an F-15E Strike Eagle that was shot down inside Iran. The military had to blow up two of its own special operations aircraft on the ground in Iran during the covert mission, which involved hundreds of American military and intelligence personnel, including special operations force.
Speaking to reporters, Trump also expressed optimism about ongoing diplomatic efforts with Iran, suggesting a potential agreement could be reached within days.
“We have a good chance,” Trump said. “We’re very close to having a very, very good, strong, powerful deal.”
Negotiations between Washington and Tehran have remained difficult, with major disagreements over Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, sanctions relief, and the release of frozen Iranian assets.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, with any disruption to shipping traffic carrying significant implications for global energy markets and regional security.
