US Central Command has confirmed that four out of six crew members aboard a KC-135 refueling aircraft were killed when it crashed in western Iraq during operations against Iran.
The incident occurred around 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, with rescue efforts still underway to locate and recover the remaining personnel. Officials initially ruled out both hostile and friendly fire as factors in the downing, but an investigation into the exact circumstances is ongoing.
The tanker was one of two aircraft involved in the mission; the second landed safely without incident. Centcom described the crash site as being over friendly airspace, though the region is known for the presence of pro-Iranian militias. Iranian state television later claimed that an allied group had targeted the plane with a missile.
The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, manufactured in the 1950s and 1960s, has long served as a vital component of the US military’s air refueling capabilities, enabling fighter jets and bombers to extend their range during extended operations. It played a key role in missions like the first Gulf War.
Centcom noted that the identities of the deceased are being withheld for 24 hours to allow time for next-of-kin notifications. The aircraft typically carries a core crew including a pilot, co-pilot, and boom operator who manages the refueling arm.
This tragedy raises the official US military death toll in the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran, which erupted two weeks ago, to 11. It also marks at least the fourth US aircraft lost in the war.
Earlier this month, three F-15 fighter jets were downed in an apparent friendly fire incident over Kuwait, though all six crew members ejected safely and were recovered.
As the conflict intensifies, the loss of the KC-135 underscores the risks faced by support aircraft in contested regions, even when operating in supposedly secure airspace. Military analysts expect the investigation to shed light on whether mechanical failure, environmental factors, or undetected threats contributed to the crash.
