A U.S. Army AH-64 Apache crashed in the sea near the Strait of Hormuz on 8 June, but both crew members were rescued, according to U.S. and media reports. U.S. Central Command said the incident was under investigation and did not immediately confirm the cause.
The helicopter was operating off the coast of Oman when it went down, in one of the world’s most strategically sensitive waterways. Reports said American forces recovered the two crew members, who were later described as being in stable condition.
CBS News reported that military officials said the rescue was carried out by a sea drone, which would mark the first known U.S. military water rescue of its kind. Other reporting said investigators were considering whether the aircraft was hit, suffered a mechanical failure or experienced another problem, but no cause had been established.