US President, Donald Trump said Monday, June 8, that two pilots were uninjured following reports that a US military helicopter went down near the Strait of Hormuz.
It was not immediately clear whether the Apache helicopter was shot down, experienced a mechanical failure, or encountered another problem. Reports citing sources briefed on the incident said investigations were ongoing.
“The pilots are fine, yeah. Nobody injured,” Trump told reporters before departing New York after attending an NBA Finals game.
“We are going to issue a report on that tomorrow,” he added, without commenting on what may have caused the incident.
The reported helicopter incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East and increased military activity around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important shipping routes.
Trump also said negotiators were in the “final throes” of talks aimed at securing a broader peace agreement in the Middle East, following recent efforts by Iran and Israel to halt hostilities that had threatened to reignite months of conflict.
Officials have yet to release further details about the helicopter or the circumstances surrounding the incident.