Four of six crew members aboard a U.S. military KC-135 refuelling aircraft have been confirmed dead after the plane crashed in western Iraq, U.S. Central Command (Centcom) said Thursday. Rescue operations are ongoing.
Centcom clarified that neither hostile nor friendly fire was involved in the incident. The KC-135, a Boeing-manufactured tanker designed to refuel aircraft midair, was part of ongoing U.S. operations targeting Iran. A second aircraft involved in the mission landed safely.
“The crash occurred around 14:00 ET (19:00 GMT) on Thursday. Circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation,” Centcom said.
The identities of the deceased crew members are being withheld for 24 hours to allow notification of next of kin. The KC-135 typically operates with a crew including a pilot, co-pilot, and boom operator responsible for in-flight refuelling.
Although Centcom stated the crash occurred over friendly airspace, the area is known to host pro-Iranian militia activity. Iranian state media reported that an allied group had claimed responsibility, saying the aircraft was targeted with a missile—claims not confirmed by U.S. authorities.
This incident raises the U.S. military death toll in the ongoing U.S.-Israel campaign against Iran, which began two weeks ago, to 11. At least four U.S. aircraft have now been lost during the conflict.
Earlier this month, three F-15 fighter jets were downed in what officials described as an “apparent friendly fire incident” over Kuwait. All six crew members ejected safely.
First manufactured by Boeing in the 1950s and 1960s, the KC-135 Stratotanker remains a cornerstone of U.S. air refuelling operations, enabling combat aircraft to extend their range and mission duration without landing.
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