American KC-135 Refuelling Plane Crashes in Western Iraq During Anti-Iran Mission

A United States military refuelling aircraft has crashed in western Iraq during an operation against Iranian targets, according to a statement released by the US Central Command on Thursday.

The command reported that an incident involving two aircraft occurred in friendly airspace. One of the aircraft went down, while the other landed safely. Officials have confirmed that the crash was not caused by hostile fire or friendly fire.

Rescue teams have been dispatched to the crash site to locate and recover the crew. A KC-135 refuelling aircraft typically carries a crew of at least three personnel.

The KC-135 is one of the most frequently used aircraft in the US Air Force fleet and also among its oldest. The aircraft is designed to refuel a wide range of military planes, including fighter jets, surveillance aircraft, and cargo planes.

A US official disclosed that the second aircraft involved in the incident was also a KC-135 and it landed without incident.

Air-to-air refuelling missions are routine for Air Force pilots, and accidents are uncommon. However, the manoeuvre can be challenging, particularly in adverse weather conditions or strong winds. Air Force officials stated that investigators believe a midair collision may have caused the crash, though details remain unclear. An investigation is ongoing alongside search and rescue operations.

The crash occurred in a remote desert region of western Iraq.

This marks the fourth manned aircraft lost since Operation Epic Fury began in late February. None of the crashes have been attributed to Iranian hostile fire.

Earlier this month, three Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighters were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti F/A-18 aircraft in a friendly fire incident.

The last crash involving an American tanker aircraft occurred in 2013, when a KC-135 conducting refuelling missions over Afghanistan crashed shortly after takeoff from Manas Airport in Kyrgyzstan, killing three airmen.