Four crew members aboard a US military KC-135 Stratotanker have died after the aircraft crashed in western Iraq, US Central Command (Centcom) confirmed Thursday. Two other crew members survived the incident, which occurred during ongoing US operations in the region.
Centcom said that rescue efforts are ongoing and emphasized that neither hostile nor friendly fire was involved. A second tanker operating alongside the aircraft landed safely.
The crash occurred around 14:00 ET (19:00 GMT), and investigators are now working to determine the cause. The identities of the four personnel who died are being withheld for 24 hours to allow notification of their next of kin.
The KC-135 Stratotanker, built by Boeing in the 1950s and 1960s, is a critical component of the US air refuelling fleet, enabling fighter jets and bombers to extend their missions without landing. The aircraft typically carries a pilot, co-pilot, and boom operator responsible for controlling in-flight refuelling.
While Centcom described the crash as occurring over friendly airspace, the area is known to be frequented by pro-Iranian militias. Iran’s military claimed on state television that an allied group had targeted the plane with a missile.
This marks the fourth US aircraft lost since the outbreak of hostilities between the US, Israel, and Iran. Earlier this month, three F-15s were downed in what officials described as an apparent friendly fire incident over Kuwait, though all six crew members survived.
So far, seven US soldiers have been confirmed killed in the conflict. The KC-135 continues to play a vital role in US military operations, having been heavily relied upon during the first Gulf War and subsequent missions for extended air support.
Centcom has assured the public that the incident is under full investigation as military and diplomatic teams work to understand the circumstances behind the crash.