US President Donald Trump gave an update on the helicopter crash off the coast of Oman. The AH-64 Apache went down on June 8 while conducting a routine patrol mission near the Strait of Hormuz. It is one of the world’s most vital global oil passages as the war with Iran continues.
Donald Trump responds to helicopter crash in Oman
Donald Trump addressed the helicopter crash on Tuesday while speaking to reporters at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, following his attendance at the NBA Finals. “The pilots are fine. Yeah. Nobody injured,” Trump said. “We are going to issue a report tomorrow. But the pilots are fine,” he added.
The president’s comments landed before US Central Command issued its own detailed statement on the social media platform X. That statement confirmed both crew members were rescued safely and remain in stable condition. The cause of the incident is still under active investigation, with authorities looking at mechanical failure and potential hostile fire.
Centcom spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins confirmed to Fox News that an unmanned surface vessel was the first asset to reach the downed aircrew. The drone, a Navy Corsair operated by Task Force 59, allowed both pilots to climb aboard before any manned ship or aircraft arrived.
A senior defense official framed the moment as historic. “To our knowledge, this marks a global first—the first time an unmanned surface vessel has directly participated in the rescue of downed aircrew. It is a powerful example of how unmanned systems and AI are delivering real operational advantages,” the official stated.
The incident happened during a particularly sensitive moment in West Asia. Only a day earlier, Iran and Israel had traded direct fire before Tehran announced a halt to military operations, leading to cautious talk of a ceasefire.
The proximity of the crash to Iranian waters prompted questions about whether hostile action played a role. Iranian state media acknowledged the reports briefly but added nothing substantive, and there was no claim of responsibility.
Originally reported by Devanshi Basu for Mandatory.
