Four United States crew members have been confirmed dead after a US military refuelling aircraft crashed in western Iraq during an operation in the region, according to officials from the US Central Command (CENTCOM).
Gatekeepers News reports that the aircraft involved was a KC-135 Stratotanker, a long-serving aerial refuelling plane used by the US Air Force to supply fuel to fighter jets and bombers while they are in flight. The plane went down on March 12 during a mission in western Iraq, with six crew members on board.
CENTCOM said four of the six crew members were confirmed dead, while rescue operations continued for the remaining two personnel. The identities of the deceased have not yet been released as authorities are still notifying their families.
Initial reports indicated that the crash occurred following an incident involving another KC-135 tanker operating in the same area. The second aircraft was able to land safely despite sustaining damage.
US officials stressed that the crash was not caused by hostile or friendly fire, adding that an investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the accident.
The incident occurred during ongoing military operations in the Middle East linked to rising tensions and conflict involving Iran, with thousands of US troops deployed across the region.
The KC-135 Stratotanker has been a key aircraft in US military operations for more than six decades, enabling long-distance missions by refuelling aircraft mid-air.
