Photo Credit: Getty Images
Four American service members were confirmed dead after a military refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Thursday while supporting U.S. operations linked to the ongoing conflict with Iran, according to officials.
The aircraft, a KC-135 Stratotanker operated by the United States Air Force, went down at about 2 p.m. Eastern Time, United States Central Command said in a statement released early Friday.
Officials said six personnel were aboard the tanker when the incident occurred. Four deaths have been confirmed, while search and rescue teams are continuing efforts to locate and assist the remaining two crew members.
In its statement, Central Command said early indications show the crash was not caused by hostile fire or by friendly forces operating in the area.
Military officials previously said two aircraft were involved in the event over western Iraq. One of the planes crashed, while the other landed safely after the incident.
The crash happened during missions connected to Operation Epic Fury, the campaign launched on Feb. 28 as U.S. forces joined Israel in strikes aimed at senior Iranian military figures and strategic facilities.
With the latest deaths, at least ten active duty U.S. personnel have been killed since the operation began, according to defense officials. Another service member died earlier from a medical issue.
Authorities said the identities of those killed will be withheld until relatives are notified, a standard policy following military fatalities.
The KC-135 Stratotanker functions as an aerial refueling platform, allowing combat aircraft to take on fuel midair and remain over operational zones for longer periods.
Typical crews include a pilot, copilot and boom operator responsible for transferring fuel to receiving aircraft, though some missions also include navigators or additional specialists.
The aircraft type has served for decades and is among the oldest airframes still used widely by the Air Force, though many have undergone upgrades such as modern engines and avionics.
Investigators are expected to examine flight data, maintenance history and communications from the aircraft as they work to determine exactly what led to the crash in the remote desert region.
