U.S. Remote Rescue Saves Two Apache Pilots After Hormuz Stranding

Two American Apache helicopter pilots were rescued after their aircraft went down near the Strait of Hormuz late Monday night, in what U.S. officials described as an unprecedented operation at sea. The attack helicopter has no ejection seats, so the two pilots had to jump into the water after the crash.

According to U.S. Central Command spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins, the crew spent about two hours in the water after dark before being located. They were pulled out by a remotely operated drone boat, with U.S. drones and fighter jets providing air cover. The pilots were then lifted from the drone vessel into a rescue helicopter. Hawkins said,