Newsletters
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on Friday that four of the six crew members aboard a U.S. Air Force (USAF) KC-135 refueling aircraft that went down in western Iraq have been confirmed dead, as rescue efforts continue and competing claims emerge over the cause of the crash.
CENTCOM stated that the aircraft went down at about 2 p.m. ET on March 12. It said the circumstances remain under investigation, but the loss of the aircraft was "not due to hostile fire or friendly fire."
"Four of six crew members on board the aircraft have been confirmed deceased as rescue efforts continue," CENTCOM said in a statement on X.
It added that the identities of the service members are being withheld until 24 hours after the next of kin have been notified.
Breaking News, Direct to You.
Follow Türkiye Today on WhatsApp
for real-time updates and key insights from Türkiye and beyond.
Earlier, CENTCOM said a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft was lost over Iraq during Operation Epic Fury. It said the incident occurred in friendly airspace and involved two aircraft.
One aircraft went down in western Iraq, while the second landed safely, CENTCOM stated.
"This was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire," the command said in an earlier statement on X.
A U.S. official told CNN at least five crew members were aboard the tanker that crashed, while CENTCOM at that stage did not specify whether anyone had been killed or injured. CENTCOM’s later statement said six crew members were on board.
Iranian state television, citing a spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbiya military headquarters affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), stated that the aircraft was hit by missiles fired by "resistance factions," causing it to crash.
The spokesman said the aircraft belonged to the U.S. military and that all crew members were killed, Iranian state television reported.
A separate statement from the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed that armed groups had shot down a U.S. KC-135 in western Iraq.
"In defense of our country and our airspace against violations by occupying forces, a U.S. KC-135 aircraft was struck with appropriate weapons and brought down in western Iraq," the group said in a statement.
CENTCOM has publicly rejected hostile fire and friendly fire as the cause of the crash.
A Hebrew-language report by Kan News stated two KC-135 Stratotankers collided in midair during aerial refueling operations for fighter jets on their way to strikes in Iran.
Kan News reported that one aircraft crashed in Iraq and that the second returned and made an emergency landing at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv with significant damage to part of its tail stabilizer.
The KC-135 Stratotanker is used primarily for aerial refueling missions by the U.S. Air Force.
A typical crew includes a pilot, copilot, and boom operator, though some missions may also include navigators.
The aircraft can also be configured to carry cargo or medical patients. The KC-135 fleet is among the oldest aircraft platforms still in service with the U.S. Air Force, based on the Boeing 707 design, with the last unit delivered in 1965.
The incident marked the fourth known aircraft loss since the start of the conflict with Iran on Feb. 28. CENTCOM's latest statement established the clearest official toll so far, confirming four deaths in the KC-135 crash over western Iraq while rescue efforts continue.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
2 min read
