The United States Central Command confirmed that all six crew members aboard the KC-135 tanker aircraft that crashed in western Iraq died in the accident during a military mission.
According to a statement released on March 13 by the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the aerial refueling aircraft was lost while flying in airspace considered safe on March 12 during Operation Epic Fury.
Military authorities confirmed that the six crew members who were on board died in the aircraft crash.
The KC-135 was conducting operations in the region when the incident occurred. The exact crash location is in western Iraq, an area where United States forces maintain a military presence in support of security and stability operations.
According to CENTCOM, there are no indications that the crash was caused by enemy fire or friendly fire. The circumstances of the accident are still being analyzed by military investigators.
The names of the deceased military personnel have not yet been released. Their identities will only be made public after a minimum period of 24 hours following official notification to the victims’ families.
The KC-135 Stratotanker is one of the main tanker aircraft of the United States Air Force, responsible for carrying out aerial refueling missions for fighter jets, bombers, and other military aircraft, allowing these platforms to significantly extend their range and operational time.
Authorities stated that more information will be released as the investigation progresses.
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Source and images: USAF. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
