A Drone Boat Rescued Two Apache Pilots From the Strait of Hormuz - A First in Military History
A U.S. Navy unmanned vessel rescued two Army Apache pilots after their helicopter went down near Oman, the first time a drone boat has ever saved military personnel.
A U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter went down near the coast of Oman Monday evening while on patrol, with both crew members rescued within two hours in what military officials are describing as a historic first: the first known rescue of downed military personnel by an unmanned surface vessel.
U.S. Central Command confirmed Tuesday that the two U.S. Army AH-64 Apache pilots were rescued near the Strait of Hormuz after their helicopter went down near the coast of Oman on Monday evening. The Apache was "patrolling regional waters" when the incident occurred, CENTCOM said.
A Task Force 59 unmanned surface vessel, essentially a drone boat, found and rescued the soldiers, CENTCOM spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins told NBC News. Both soldiers were receiving medical care and are in stable condition.
This incident appears to be the first publicly reported rescue of downed aircrew by an unmanned surface vessel in a real-world operational environment, marking a significant milestone in the U.S. military's integration of autonomous systems into active combat operations.
Rescue efforts were led by U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and the 82nd Airborne Division, with support from U.S. Air Force and Navy units including Task Force 59. Task Force 59 is the U.S. Navy's dedicated unmanned and AI task force, established in September 2021 and headquartered in Bahrain, operating across the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and Red Sea.
The cause of the crash remains unknown and under investigation. Officials are investigating whether Iranian fire brought the helicopter down, two American officials and a third source with knowledge told Axios. It remains unclear whether the Apache was shot down by Iranian fire, suffered a mechanical failure, or encountered another problem. One official told Axios that the cause may become clearer once the two crew members, currently undergoing treatment, are interviewed.
President Trump confirmed the crew was safe Monday night, in characteristic fashion — on the tarmac after attending Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. "The pilots are fine. Nobody injured. We are going to issue a report tomorrow, but the pilots are fine," Trump told reporters.
The U.S. has been using Apache AH-64 helicopters to patrol the Strait of Hormuz as part of military operations, providing deterrence and cover for commercial vessels navigating the waterway. Previously, Apaches destroyed six Iranian fast-attack boats that were harassing ships in the Strait.
The incident comes amid a renewed flare-up in the Iran-Israel conflict. Monday's crash followed a reescalation of tensions between Iran and Israel, which exchanged fire Sunday for the first time since an April ceasefire. Iranian state media acknowledged the crash but offered no additional details and made no claim of responsibility.
For the U.S. military, the successful drone boat rescue is likely to accelerate investment in autonomous systems for personnel recovery and combat search and rescue — proving in a live operational environment what had until now only been tested in exercises.