A U.S. Army Apache attack helicopter went down near the Strait of Hormuz, according to multiple media reports. President Donald Trump said the aircraft’s two crew members were safely rescued and were “fine.”
The incident comes amid renewed tensions between Iran and Israel, which have exchanged fire in recent days, raising concerns about efforts to preserve a fragile ceasefire.
The New York Times first reported that the helicopter crashed near the strategic waterway under unclear circumstances. It remains unknown whether the incident was caused by hostile fire, a mechanical failure, or another factor.
The U.S. Department of State and U.S. Central Command have not yet issued any statement on the matter.
READ: Oil prices climb amid Iran war, Hormuz disruption sparks fears of worst crisis since 1970s (March 23, 2026)
Apache helicopters have been a key asset for the American military as it enforces a blockade on Iranian crude oil shipments and tankers, seeking to pressure Tehran into reaching a deal. The helicopters also have been used by the United Arab Emirates to shoot down Iranian drones during the Iran war.
“The pilots are fine. Yeah,” Trump said, speaking to journalists at John F. Kennedy International Airport. “Nobody was injured. We are going to issue a report tomorrow. But the pilots are fine.”
Trump also expressed optimism over negotiations with Iran. “We have a good chance” of signing a deal in “two or three days,” he said, without giving a reason for his renewed optimism.
“We’re very close to having a very, very good, strong, powerful deal,” the president said. “If we go and bomb — which we could do very easily if we want, and we spend another two or three weeks bombing — they’ll have nothing left whatsoever. But you won’t have the strait open for months.”
READ: Missiles in the sky, delays at sea: Inside an Indian tanker’s three-week wait near Hormuz (April 1, 2026)
“If we do the bombing, you know, a lot of people are going to be killed. Who wants to do that? I don’t,” he added.
U.S. and Israeli officials said that Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Monday. In an interview with Axios, Trump said he warned Netanyahu that if the Israeli leader went back to war with Iran, he might find himself fighting alone. “I said, ‘Bibi, you better be careful, or you will be on your own very soon,’” Trump said.
An Israeli military official said Israel was prepared to continue operations for “as long as it takes,” while Iranian officials struck a similarly defiant tone. Meanwhile, a military source quoted by the semi-official Tasnim news agency said Tehran was ready for a prolonged conflict and could renew strikes against U.S. interests in the region.