Four United States service members have been confirmed dead after a US Air Force refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq, the military said.
According to the US military’s Central Command, the KC-135 tanker went down during operations in Iraqi airspace, with six crew members on board at the time of the incident. Four were confirmed dead while rescue efforts continued for the remaining two crew members.
Officials said the crash occurred during a mission connected to ongoing military operations in the region. Another aircraft was involved in the incident but managed to land safely.
The military stressed that the loss of the aircraft was “not due to hostile fire or friendly fire,” and said the circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation. The KC-135 Stratotanker, a key aerial refueling platform used to extend the range of combat aircraft, has been a core component of US air operations for decades. Authorities said the identities of the deceased crew members are being withheld until their families have been
