Trump Addresses Helicopter Incident with Iran

On June 9, 2026, President Donald Trump confirmed that Iranian forces shot down a U.S. military AH-64 Apache helicopter. He indicated this situation required a response out of “necessity.”

President Trump shared on Truth Social, “Last night, our great military informed me that Iranian forces shot down one of our high-powered Apache helicopters while on patrol over the Strait of Hormuz. There were two pilots involved, both of whom were safe and uninjured. Nevertheless, the United States must inevitably respond to this attack.”

This incident raises questions about the current status of the ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran. The Trump administration has been involved in ongoing diplomatic efforts to reach a peace agreement. Still, officials have stated that the military is prepared to take action in the Middle East if it’s deemed necessary.

Earlier in the day, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that the helicopter’s crew was rescued after it crashed near the coast of Oman.

According to CENTCOM, the two crew members were successfully located and rescued by U.S. forces two hours after the crash, which occurred at 7:33 p.m. ET on June 8. President Trump later confirmed to reporters that everyone involved was safe.

“The pilot is safe,” he noted. “No one was injured.”

CENTCOM is currently investigating the crash’s cause. A report from May 13 indicated that since the war with Iran began on February 28, 42 aircraft have either been lost or damaged, primarily due to unmanned drones. However, several manned aircraft have also been destroyed, including a notable fighter jet incident over Iran, which prompted a significant rescue operation.