US Air Force Tanker Crash in Iraq Claims Six Lives
Six U.S. service members died after a KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in western Iraq on Thursday. U.S. Central Command confirmed the deaths on Friday morning.
What happened
CENTCOM said two aircraft were involved during Operation Epic Fury missions. One tanker went down in western Iraq, and the other landed safely.
The military stated the incident was not due to hostile or friendly fire. The crash occurred at 2 p.m. ET on Thursday.
Claims and evidence
An Iran-aligned umbrella group, the Islamic Resistance of Iraq, claimed it downed the tanker. The group also said it forced a second KC-135 to make an emergency landing.
No evidence has been provided publicly to support that claim. Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. said one aircraft had landed safely in Israel.
Images and aircraft identification
Images circulated showing a KC-135 with damage to its tail. Markings linked the aircraft to Beale Air Force Base in California.
Beale hosts the 940th Air Refueling Wing of the Air Force Reserve Command. Officials have not released the tanker’s mission details.
Casualties and official response
The crew members’ identities will be withheld for 24 hours after next-of-kin notifications. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the victims American heroes.
He said he will attend the dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. The deaths raise U.S. fatalities linked to the war with Iran to 13.
- Six Army Reserve soldiers died in the Shuaiba port attack on March 1.
- Another service member recently died after injuries from an attack in Saudi Arabia.
About the KC-135 tanker
The KC-135 is a flying refueling platform that lets aircraft extend their range. Typical flight crews include a pilot, copilot, and boom operator.
Some missions add navigators. The jets can also carry cargo and patients when configured for medical evacuation.
Age and fleet size
The KC-135 fleet dates to the 1960s, with the last unit delivered in 1965. A congressional report listed 376 KC-135s on active duty last year.
Many aircraft have received upgrades, including newer engines, to extend service lives.
Operational context
Western Iraq is sparsely populated desert. U.S. and allied forces have faced attacks from pro-Iran militias since the conflict began.
Those strikes have often used drones in northern Iraq. This tanker loss is the fourth known manned aircraft loss in the war with Iran.
Last week, three F-15E fighters were downed over Kuwait in a friendly-fire incident. All six crew members ejected safely.
Filmogaz.com will update this report as more information and official findings become available.
