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Two U.S. pilots involved in a helicopter crash near the Strait of Hormuz are reported to be safe, according to President Donald Trump. The crew of an Apache attack helicopter was rescued after the aircraft went down close to waters controlled by Iran, as detailed by the New York Times. It remains unclear whether the helicopter was shot down by Iranian fire, suffered mechanical failure, or encountered another issue.
The White House, State Department, and U.S. Central Command have not immediately responded to requests for comment. Trump mentioned to reporters that a report on the incident would be released later Tuesday. On the runway at JFK Airport before heading back to Washington, he assured, “The pilots are fine. Nobody injured.”
The incident occurred the day after Iran and Israel announced they had paused hostilities following a plea from Trump, although Tehran warned it would resume attacks if Israel continued striking Hezbollah positions in Lebanon. This delicate ceasefire aligns with ongoing efforts by Washington to negotiate a comprehensive agreement with Tehran to end over three months of heightened tensions.
Trump also hinted to the press that he might have a new proposal for an Iran deal within days, though he provided no specifics. The current period has seen the most direct confrontation between Iran and Israel since a ceasefire in April, with Iran firing missiles at Israeli territory in retaliation for attacks on Hezbollah in Beirut. Israel responded by targeting Iranian missile defense systems and a petrochemical plant believed to be linked to ballistic missile production. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard declared it had retaliated with strikes against an Israeli facility in Haifa, with no casualties reported on either side.
In conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump warned that if Israel re-engaged in conflict with Iran, they might have to fight alone, cautioning Netanyahu to tread carefully. Israeli officials expressed readiness to continue operations indefinitely, while Iranian officials projected willingness for a prolonged conflict, indicating they might renew strikes against U.S. interests in the region.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated that Tehran and Washington are exchanging messages under an atmosphere of “extreme suspicion.” Tehran has long insisted that progress toward peace with the U.S. hinges on ending the conflict in Lebanon, which Israel invaded in March seeking Hezbollah fighters responsible for cross-border fire. Despite ongoing military campaigns, including Israel’s operations in Lebanon and continued Hezbollah attacks, Iran has consistently blocked most shipping through the Strait of Hormuz—once a vital route for a fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas—while Washington has imposed its own port sanctions.
Trump has emphasized that any peace agreement must prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Iran’s conditions for negotiations include lifting sanctions, releasing frozen assets, and acknowledging Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz.
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