A US KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in western Iraq on Thursday during Iran war operations, killing four of six crew members, according to US Central Command.
The aircraft went down at approximately 2 p.m. ET. Officials confirmed four fatalities while rescue efforts continue for the remaining two crew members. Another aircraft involved in the mission landed safely.
CENTCOM stated that hostile fire or friendly fire did not cause the crash. The circumstances remain under investigation. The military will release the identities of the deceased after notifying families.
The crash raises the death toll of active service personnel to ten since Operation Epic Fury began on February 28. One additional service member died of a medical issue. Last week, Kuwait mistakenly shot down three US fighter jets, though all crew members survived.
The KC-135 Stratotanker, valued at nearly $40 million, has served the US Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy for more than six decades. It plays a critical role in aerial refuelling and can also support medical evacuations. Typically, the aircraft carries three crew members, but missions expand the crew to five or more depending on requirements.
