Sea drone rescues two US crew members after Apache helicopter went down near Strait of Hormuz

An uncrewed U.S. Navy vessel successfully rescued two American Army helicopter crew members after their AH-64 Apache aircraft crashed into the sea near the Strait of Hormuz on June 8, 2026. The incident occurred off the coast of Oman, and both personnel were recovered in stable condition within approximately two hours of the crash.

This operation marks a significant milestone as the U.S. military's first operational rescue conducted by an unmanned surface drone. The rescue was carried out by a vessel from Task Force 59, the Navy's unit dedicated to integrating unmanned systems and artificial intelligence into maritime operations.

The cause of the Apache helicopter's crash remains under investigation. The event unfolds amidst ongoing tensions in the region, with U.S. officials exploring all possibilities regarding the incident.