- Earlier statements indicated that the aircraft was not brought down by either enemy fire or friendly fire
- The aircraft type has long been central to American military operations and was widely used during the Gulf War
- A typical KC-135 crew includes a pilot, co-pilot and a boom operator who manages the refuelling equipment during flight
Four crew members aboard a US military refuelling aircraft were killed after the plane crashed in western Iraq, according to US Central Command (Centcom).
Eko Hot Blog gathered rescue operations are still ongoing following the crash of the KC-135 Stratotanker, Centcom said.
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Earlier statements indicated that the aircraft was not brought down by either enemy fire or friendly fire.
The tanker was taking part in US military operations connected to the ongoing conflict with Iran. It was one of two aircraft involved in the mission, while the second plane landed safely.
The KC-135, built by Boeing, is designed to refuel other aircraft in midair and plays a key role in extending the operational range of US fighter jets and bombers.
The aircraft type has long been central to American military operations and was widely used during the Gulf War.
Centcom reported that the crash occurred at around 14:00 Eastern Time (19:00 GMT) on Thursday. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the incident.
Officials said the names of the deceased crew members will not be released for at least 24 hours to allow time for their families to be notified.
A typical KC-135 crew includes a pilot, co-pilot and a boom operator who manages the refuelling equipment during flight.
Although the crash reportedly happened in what the US military described as friendly airspace, the area in western Iraq is known to host pro-Iranian militia groups. Iran’s military claimed on state television that one of its allied militias had shot down the aircraft with a missile.
Since the start of the US-Israel conflict with Iran, seven American service members have been confirmed killed.
The latest crash means the US military has now lost at least four aircraft since the conflict began.
Earlier this month, three F-15 fighter jets were destroyed in what officials described as an apparent friendly-fire incident over Kuwait. All six crew members aboard those aircraft managed to eject safely.
First introduced in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the KC-135 Stratotanker has remained a vital part of the US Air Force’s refuelling fleet, allowing combat aircraft to stay in the air longer and conduct extended missions without landing.
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