Four of the six crew members aboard a Boeing KC‑135 Stratotanker operated by the United States Air Force have died after the aircraft crashed in western Iraq, according to the United States Central Command (CENTCOM). Rescue efforts are continuing as authorities attempt to locate and recover the remaining two crew members.
CENTCOM confirmed the incident in a post on X on Friday afternoon, stating that the refuelling aircraft went down at approximately 2 pm ET on March 12. The military command noted that four of the six personnel on board have been confirmed dead while search-and-rescue teams remain engaged in efforts to assist the two remaining crew members.
The identities of the deceased service members have not yet been released. Officials said their names will be withheld for at least 24 hours until their families have been notified, following standard military protocol.
Authorities said the circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation. However, CENTCOM has ruled out both hostile fire and friendly fire as causes of the incident.
According to the command, the crash occurred following an unspecified incident involving two aircraft operating in friendly airspace. While the KC-135 went down, the second aircraft involved in the incident managed to land safely.
The United States Central Command, which oversees American military operations across the Middle East and coordinates certain operational aspects related to the ongoing regional tensions involving Iran, said investigators are working to determine what exactly led to the accident.
The Boeing KC‑135 Stratotanker is one of the longest-serving tanker aircraft in the fleet of the United States Air Force. Designed primarily to refuel military aircraft in midair, the tanker allows fighter jets, bombers, and surveillance aircraft to travel greater distances and remain operational for extended periods without landing.
Based on the design of the Boeing 707 passenger aircraft, the KC-135 has been in service for more than six decades. Over the years, it has supported not only the Air Force but also the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and allied military forces.
In addition to aerial refuelling missions, the aircraft can also be configured to transport wounded personnel during medical evacuations or conduct surveillance operations.
Despite its long operational history, the ageing tanker fleet is expected to be gradually retired as the Air Force introduces the next-generation Boeing KC‑46A Pegasus. The new aircraft is designed to provide improved refuelling capabilities, advanced avionics, and enhanced mission flexibility.
For now, authorities remain focused on rescue efforts and determining the precise cause of the crash, as the U.S. military mourns the loss of four service members in one of the latest incidents involving ageing aircraft operating in demanding environments.
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