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US military confirms fatal KC-135 crash in Iraq
Four of six crew members aboard a US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker died when the aircraft went down in western Iraq on Thursday, US Central Command (Centcom) reported. Rescue operations are ongoing.
No hostile fire involved, investigation underway
Centcom stated that neither enemy nor friendly fire caused the crash, which occurred around 19:00 GMT (14:00 ET). The incident remains under investigation. A second aircraft involved in the operation landed safely.
Crash site in militia-active region
The KC-135 went down in an area where Iran-backed militias operate. While Centcom described the airspace as friendly, Iranian state television later claimed an allied group had struck the plane with a missile. US officials have not confirmed this account.
KC-135's role in US military operations
Built by Boeing in the 1950s and 1960s, the KC-135 Stratotanker serves as a cornerstone of US aerial refueling. The aircraft enables combat planes to extend missions without landing. It saw extensive use during the first Gulf War to support fighter jets and bombers.
The tanker typically carries a crew of at least three: a pilot, co-pilot, and boom operator who controls the refueling arm.
Recent US military losses in the region
This crash marks the fourth US aircraft lost since the escalation of conflict following the US-Israel war with Iran. Seven American service members have died in related incidents.
Earlier this month, three F-15 jets were downed in Kuwait in an apparent friendly fire incident. All six crew members ejected safely in that case.
Next of kin notification pending
Centcom has withheld the identities of the deceased crew members for 24 hours to allow notification of next of kin.
