Crashed US army helicopter pilots rescued by sea drone near Strait of Hormuz

Two unit members of a US service chopper that crashed adjacent the Strait of Hormuz connected Monday were rescued by an American oversea drone, US officials person told CBS News, the BBC's media partner.

It was the archetypal specified cognition carried retired by US forces, the officials added.

US Central Command (Centcom) earlier said the 2 "soldiers were safely rescued wrong astir 2 hours and are successful unchangeable condition" aft their AH-64 Apache chopper went down "near the seashore of Oman portion patrolling determination waters".

It was not instantly wide whether the craft had developed a mechanical oregon immoderate different method problem, oregon had been downed by Iranian fire. The incidental is being investigated.

In its connection connected Tuesday, Centcom said the 2 unit members had been rescued astatine 19:33 EDT (23:33 GMT) connected Monday.

"Rescue efforts were led by US Naval Forces Central Command and the 82nd Airborne Division, with enactment from US Air Force and Navy units including US 5th Fleet's Task Force 59," the connection added.

The subject officials who spoke to CBS News said the brace had been rescued by an uncrewed aboveground drone that was operated by Task Force 59.

In 2024, Task Force 59 launched a caller portion focusing connected "the operational deployment of unmanned systems teamed with manned operators to bolster maritime information crossed the Middle East region".

It was not instantly wide what benignant of drone was utilized successful the rescue operation, but a US authoritative told ABC News that it had a velocity boat-like design.

The BBC has approached Centcom for comment.

US President Donald Trump earlier told reporters the 2 unit members were "fine", and that a study into the incidental would beryllium issued later.