A United States military tanker aircraft, a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, was lost during a military operation in Iraq, according to the United States Central Command (CENTCOM).
According to a statement released by the military command, the incident occurred during Operation Epic Fury in airspace considered secure for U.S. forces.
According to CENTCOM, two aircraft were involved in the incident. One of them crashed in western Iraq, while the second aircraft managed to land safely.
Military authorities emphasized that the accident was not caused by hostile fire or friendly fire, initially ruling out the possibility of an attack or combat error.
Search and rescue operations are currently ongoing, while military teams work to locate and assist the crew members involved in the incident.
In an official statement, the command urged caution until further information can be confirmed.
“The United States Central Command is aware of the loss of a KC-135 refueling aircraft. More information will be made available as the situation develops,” the statement said.
CENTCOM also stressed that additional details will only be released after a full verification of the facts, in order to ensure transparency and respect for the families of the service members involved.
The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is one of the main aerial refueling aircraft used by the United States Air Force, allowing fighter jets, bombers, and other aircraft to significantly extend their operational range during military missions.
So far, no official information has been released regarding possible casualties or the causes of the accident. The case remains under investigation by U.S. military authorities.
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Source and images: CENTCOM. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
