President says pilots unharmed after U.S. helicopter crashes in Strait of Hormuz

A U.S. military helicopter went down on Monday while flying over the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime chokepoint. The crash was first reported by the New York Times, which cited two sources familiar with the incident. President Donald Trump told reporters that both pilots were fine and that no one was injured, adding that a formal report would be released the following day.

The cause of the crash has not been disclosed. The incident occurred hours after Iran and Israel exchanged direct attacks, the first such exchange since an April cease-fire, raising concerns about regional stability. Iran continues to exert influence over the strait, through which roughly 20% of global oil shipments normally pass.

Trump also addressed ongoing diplomatic efforts with Iran, stating that the United States is close to finalizing a deal that would prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and that the strait would be reopened immediately after any agreement is signed. No such deal has been confirmed at the time of reporting.