Rescue operations are currently underway after a United States military refuelling aircraft crashed in western Iraq, according to officials from the United States Central Command (Centcom).
The military confirmed that the aircraft involved was a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, which went down while operating over western Iraq. Centcom stated that neither hostile fire nor friendly fire was involved in the incident.
According to the command, the tanker was part of ongoing US military operations targeting Iran and was flying alongside another aircraft at the time of the crash. The second aircraft involved in the operation landed safely.
The KC-135, manufactured by Boeing, is designed to refuel military aircraft mid-air and plays a crucial role in extending the operational range of fighter jets and bombers. These aircraft have historically been used in major military operations, including the Gulf War, where they helped combat aircraft remain airborne for longer missions.
Typically, the aircraft operates with a crew consisting of a pilot, a co-pilot and a boom operator who controls the refuelling arm. However, reports suggest that as many as six service personnel may have been on board the aircraft when it crashed.
The condition and status of the crew remain unclear, according to reports from CBS News, a US partner of the BBC.
Centcom noted that the crash occurred in what it described as “friendly airspace.” However, the area in western Iraq is known to host militias aligned with Iran. Iranian state television claimed that an allied group had targeted the aircraft with a missile, though this claim has not been confirmed by US officials.
Speaking on BBC Newsnight, Democratic Congressman Jim Himes, who is part of the group of US lawmakers known as the “Gang of Eight” that receives classified briefings on military operations, said it was too early to determine the exact cause of the crash.
“A KC-135 is usually used for refuelling. It carries a crew between three and five people. We pray that those individuals are safe,” Himes said.
He added that such incidents can occur during wartime operations, noting that even highly advanced militaries sometimes experience accidents.
Since the start of the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, at least seven US soldiers have been confirmed killed. The latest incident also marks at least the fourth US aircraft loss during the ongoing conflict.
Earlier this month, three F-15 Eagle fighter jets were reportedly shot down over Kuwait in what officials described as an apparent friendly fire incident. All six crew members on board those aircraft managed to eject safely.
The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, first produced in the late 1950s and early 1960s, remains one of the most important aircraft in the US military’s aerial refuelling fleet, enabling combat aircraft to conduct extended missions without landing.
Rescue teams are continuing efforts to locate and assist the crew as investigations into the cause of the crash continue.
