Washington, Mar 13: A U.S. military refuelling plane participating in operations against Iran crashed in Iraq on Thursday, and rescue efforts are currently underway, according to U.S. Central Command.
It is not yet known if there were any casualties. A U.S. official, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said the KC‑135 aircraft that went down had at least five crew members on board. The military confirmed that the crash was not caused by hostile or friendly fire, describing the plane as a “loss.”
Central Command said two aircraft were involved in the operation: one landed safely, while the other crashed in western Iraq. A second U.S. official noted that both aircraft were KC‑135 tankers.
“More information will be made available as the situation develops,” Central Command said, urging patience as authorities gather details and provide clarity for the families of service members.
This incident marks the fourth publicly reported U.S. aircraft crash related to military operations against Iran. Last week, three American fighter jets were mistakenly downed by friendly fire from Kuwait. All six crew members of those F-15E Strike Eagles ejected safely and were recovered in stable condition.
So far, seven American troops have been killed in the Iran conflict, with around 140 injured, including eight seriously, the Pentagon said. President Donald Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth have warned that more U.S. casualties are likely before the conflict ends.
Six of the fallen were killed when an Iranian drone struck an operations center at a civilian port in Kuwait, one day after U.S. and Israeli forces launched attacks on Iran on February 28. The seventh service member died from injuries sustained during a March 1 attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.
The KC-135 tanker involved in the latest crash is based on the Boeing 707 design and has been in service for over 60 years, undergoing multiple upgrades over time. While the aircraft normally carries a crew of three, it is unclear why additional crew members were aboard this flight.
According to the Congressional Research Service, the Air Force had 376 KC-135s last year, including 151 on active duty, 163 in the Air National Guard, and 62 in the Air Force Reserve. (Agency)
