KC-135 Down in Iraq: 4 Dead, 2 Rescued Amid Probe by CENTCOM

CENTCOM Rules Out Hostile or Friendly Fire

Efforts are ongoing to rescue the two remaining crew members. While the cause of the crash is still under investigation, CENTCOM has ruled out hostile or friendly fire as contributing factors. The identities of the deceased soldiers were kept confidential for 24 hours to allow for family notifications.
“Four Confirmed Deceased in Loss of U.S. KC-135 Over Iraq … TAMPA, Fla. – At approximately 2 pm ET on March 12, a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft went down in western Iraq. Four of six crew members on board the aircraft have been confirmed deceased as rescue efforts continue. The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire,” US Central Command said.

Iran-Backed Group Claims Missile Shootdown

On Thursday, the military had announced that the KC-135, a vital aircraft responsible for refueling other planes in midair, had gone down, while another unspecified aircraft involved in the incident managed to return safely.
“Two aircraft were involved in the incident. One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, and the second landed safely,” said CENTCOM.
Iranian state media claimed that a group operating in neighboring Iraq, known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq—a coalition of Iran-backed armed groups—had shot down the plane with a missile. However, Washington firmly rejected this assertion, stating that there were no reports of hostile fire.

Boeing KC-135: Key US Air Refueling Plane

The KC-135, which was developed by Boeing in the 1950s and 1960s, serves as a crucial component of the US military's air refueling capabilities and is essential for long-range operations. Typically, a KC-135 operates with a three-person crew: a pilot, a copilot, and a boom operator responsible for refueling other aircraft. 

Fourth US Aircraft Loss in Iraq Conflict

Notably, the KC-135 that crashed marks the fourth military aircraft the US has lost in the ongoing conflict in Iraq, following the incident where three F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets were accidentally shot down by a Kuwaiti F-18.
Prior to this crash, the US military reported that seven service members had died due to military action, and an additional service member passed away in Kuwait as a result of a health-related incident during a medical emergency. In total, around 140 service members have been wounded, with Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell indicating that eight of those injuries are serious.