US KC-135 Refueling Aircraft Crashes in Iraq

The US military confirmed that a refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Thursday while operating in friendly airspace, as search and rescue teams work to determine the fate of the crew.

According to the United States Central Command, the aircraft went down during Operation Epic Fury, the name used by the Pentagon for ongoing US operations against Iran.

The command said two tanker aircraft were involved in the incident. One crashed in western Iraq, while the second aircraft landed safely.

Officials stressed that the crash was not the result of hostile fire or friendly fire, indicating that an accident or operational issue may have occurred.

A US official said at least five crew members were aboard the aircraft at the time of the crash. However, the military has not yet confirmed whether any service members were injured or killed.

Search and rescue teams are continuing operations in the area, which lies in western Iraq, a sparsely populated desert region.

Military authorities said more details would be released as information becomes available, noting that the situation remains under investigation.

The aircraft involved in the crash was a KC-135 Stratotanker, a long-serving refueling tanker used by the US Air Force to provide mid-air fuel to other military aircraft.

A typical crew includes a pilot, co-pilot and boom operator responsible for the refueling system, though some missions also include a navigator. The aircraft can also be configured to carry cargo or medical patients.

The KC-135 fleet is among the oldest aircraft still operating in the US Air Force, with the last unit delivered in 1965. The four-engine jet is based on the commercial Boeing 707 and has undergone multiple upgrades over the decades.

The crash marks the fourth known aircraft loss linked to the current conflict involving the United States and Iran.

Last week, three F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets were accidentally shot down over Kuwait in a friendly-fire incident. All six crew members ejected safely and survived.

Officials say investigations into the tanker crash will continue as the military gathers more information about the circumstances surrounding the incident.