Hyderabad, June 9 -- A US Army Apache attack helicopter went down near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, June 8, and its two crew members were rescued safely, The New York Times reported, citing two people briefed on the incident. President Donald Trump later confirmed the pilots were unharmed.

"The two pilots are fine," Trump told reporters late Monday after watching the NBA Finals in New York, speaking to journalists at John F Kennedy International Airport.

It was not immediately clear whether the Apache was brought down by Iranian fire, experienced a mechanical failure or encountered some other problem. This is the first instance of a downed Apache since hostilities between the United States and Iran began in February. Iran has claimed...