Two crew members from a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache were rescued after the helicopter went down near the coast of Oman while patrolling regional waters, according to U.S. Central Command.
CENTCOM said the soldiers were recovered within about two hours and were in stable condition. U.S. officials who spoke to CBS News said an American uncrewed surface vessel was used in the rescue, though that detail has not been independently verified by this article.
The crash occurred near the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important waterway between Oman and Iran. Strait of Hormuz maritime security The military has not given a final cause for the incident, and it was not immediately clear whether the aircraft suffered a mechanical or technical failure or was brought down by hostile fire.
What Officials Have Said
CENTCOM said the rescue was completed at 19:33 EDT on Monday, or 23:33 GMT. The command said U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and the 82nd Airborne Division led the rescue effort, with support from U.S. Air Force and Navy units, including the 5th Fleet’s Task Force 59.
Officials quoted by CBS News said the uncrewed vessel involved in the recovery was operated by Task Force 59. They also described it as the first operation of its kind carried out by U.S. forces, but that characterization remains attributed to those officials rather than independently confirmed here.
Task Force 59 has been associated with the U.S. military’s use of unmanned systems in Middle East maritime operations. In 2024, the Navy said a related unit would focus on pairing unmanned systems with human operators to support maritime security in the region.
Cause Still Under Investigation
The type of sea drone used in the rescue has not been confirmed. A U.S. official told ABC News it had a speedboat-like design, but no model was identified in the available statements.
President Donald Trump earlier told reporters that the two crew members were fine and said a report on the incident would be issued later. The military said the incident remains under investigation.