SRINAGAR: All six crew members aboard a US Air Force KC-135 refuelling aircraft that went down in western Iraq have been confirmed dead, the US Central Command said on Friday.
In a statement posted by the command, the aircraft was reported lost on March 12 while flying over friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury. Officials said the cause of the incident is under investigation, but confirmed that the crash was not the result of hostile or friendly fire.
All Crew Members of U.S. KC-135 Loss in Iraq Confirmed Deceased
TAMPA, Fla. – All six crew members aboard a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft that went down in western Iraq are now confirmed deceased. The aircraft was lost while flying over friendly airspace March 12 during…
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 13, 2026
The identities of the deceased personnel are being withheld until 24 hours after their next of kin have been notified, the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the US military had initially located four of the deceased crew members while search operations were underway.
Officials said the KC-135 tanker was part of ongoing US operations against Iran and was one of two aircraft involved in the incident, while the second aircraft landed safely.
The Boeing-manufactured KC-135 is designed to refuel aircraft mid-air and plays a key role in US military operations. The aircraft type was widely used during the first Gulf War to extend the operational range of fighter jets and bombers.
The latest crash brings the number of US military aircraft lost during the current war to at least four. Earlier this month, three F-15 fighter jets were shot down in what officials described as an apparent friendly fire incident over Kuwait, though all six crew members aboard those aircraft safely ejected.
