Four US Air Force Crew Members Killed After KC-135 Refuelling Plane Crashes in Iraq

Four of six crew members aboard a US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker have been confirmed dead following a crash in western Iraq, the US Central Command (Centcom) announced. Rescue operations are ongoing.

Centcom confirmed that neither hostile nor friendly fire were involved in the incident. The tanker was participating in ongoing US operations targeting Iran, and one of the two aircraft involved in the operation landed safely.

Crash Occurred Over Friendly Airspace Amid Tensions

The crash happened around 14:00 ET (19:00 GMT) on Thursday. Centcom stated that the circumstances are under investigation, and the identities of the deceased crew members are being withheld for 24 hours to notify next of kin.

KC-135 Stratotankers, built by Boeing, are designed to refuel aircraft midair, extending the range of fighter jets and bombers. They were widely used during the first Gulf War and remain a key component of US military operations.

Although the crash occurred over friendly territory, the area of western Iraq is known for the activity of pro-Iranian militias. Iranian state media reported that an allied group had targeted the aircraft with a missile, though US officials have not confirmed this claim.

Rising US Military Toll in Middle East Conflict

This incident raises the official US military death toll in the US-Israel-Iran conflict, which began two weeks ago, to 11 personnel, and marks the loss of at least four aircraft. Earlier this month, three F-15s were shot down over Kuwait in an apparent friendly fire incident, with all six crew members ejecting safely.

The KC-135 Stratotanker, first manufactured in the 1950s, typically carries a pilot, co-pilot, and boom operator responsible for aerial refuelling. The crash highlights the ongoing risks of US operations amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.