A US Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter went down near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, June 8, 2026, with both crew members rescued safely from the incident site. President Donald Trump confirmed the pilots were "fine," making brief remarks to journalists while passing through John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York after watching the NBA Finals. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and US Central Command had not publicly commented on the incident as of early Tuesday.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula, is one of the world's most strategically critical shipping lanes, through which a significant share of global oil exports passes. The crash comes amid an intensified US military presence in the region following Iran's closure of the strait to most international shipping, a move taken in the context of ongoing US-Israeli military operations against Iran. Since then, the US military has deployed Apache helicopters alongside MQ-9 Reaper drones and strike aircraft, including F/A-18s and F-35s, as part of a naval blockade campaign led by US Central Command.
The Apache is described as a highly manoeuvrable and lethal platform capable of precision strikes against tanks, personnel, and fixed targets across complex combat environments. It is equipped with an M230E1 30mm automatic cannon, folding-fin aerial rockets, and Hellfire guided missiles. According to reporting based on two people briefed on the matter, it was not immediately clear whether the helicopter was brought down by Iranian fire, mechanical failure, or another cause.
The incident marks the first confirmed Apache loss since the outbreak of hostilities with Iran on February 28, 2026. Iran has previously claimed to have shot down around 30 US MQ-9 Reaper drones, and the United States has also lost several fixed-wing aircraft during the period of direct military confrontation. The crash occurred just days after a brief escalation between Israel and Iran — including an exchange of strikes on Monday — followed by a return to a ceasefire agreement that has been in place since April.
Despite the incident, President Trump struck an optimistic tone on the broader diplomatic picture, expressing confidence in ongoing negotiations with Iran. The White House and State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the helicopter crash.