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Four U.S. service members have been confirmed dead after a military refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq while supporting ongoing operations in the region, according to the U.S. military.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the KC-135 Stratotanker went down at about 2 p.m. ET on March 12. Six crew members were on board the aircraft at the time of the incident, with four deaths confirmed while rescue efforts continued for the remaining two personnel.
"At approximately 2 pm ET on March 12, a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft went down in western Iraq," CENTCOM said in a statement. "Four of six crew members on board the aircraft have been confirmed deceased as rescue efforts continue."
Officials said the circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation. However, the military has ruled out combat involvement in the incident.
"The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire," the command added.
The crash reportedly involved two aircraft operating in the same mission. While one of the KC-135 tankers went down, the second aircraft was damaged but managed to land safely. U.S. officials have suggested the incident may have involved a mid-air collision, though investigators are still working to determine the exact cause.
The identities of the crew members killed in the crash have not yet been released. Military officials said the names will be withheld for at least 24 hours until the families of the victims have been notified, which is standard protocol.
The latest crash occurred as U.S. forces continue operations in the Middle East linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran. The incident has increased the number of U.S. service members killed since the start of those operations in late February.
In addition to the fatalities, the military has reported several aircraft losses connected to the conflict in recent weeks. Earlier this month, three U.S. F-15 fighter jets were shot down in what officials described as a friendly-fire incident over Kuwait, though all six crew members safely ejected.
Authorities say the investigation into the KC-135 crash is ongoing as search and recovery teams continue efforts in western Iraq.
