U.S. KC-135 Crash in Iraq Kills Six, Investigation Underway

TAMPA, Fla. – All six crew members aboard a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft have been confirmed dead after the plane crashed in western Iraq on March 12, 2026, while supporting Operation Epic Fury, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Friday.

Incident Details

The crash occurred in “friendly airspace” during the operation, and involved two aircraft. A second KC-135 was also involved in the incident but landed safely at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, according to Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter. CENTCOM has stated the incident was not caused by hostile fire or friendly fire.

Casualties and Investigation

The downed aircraft had at least five crew members aboard, and the confirmation of all six deaths came on March 13, 2026. The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation.

Operation Epic Fury and U.S. Aircraft Losses

The KC-135 crash brings the U.S. Death toll in Operation Epic Fury to at least 13 service members, with seven others killed in combat. Approximately 140 U.S. Service members have been injured, including eight severely, according to the Pentagon. This incident marks the fourth U.S. Military aircraft publicly acknowledged to have crashed since the start of the conflict with Iran on February 28.

KC-135 Stratotanker Overview

The KC-135 Stratotanker, built by Boeing, is a crucial aerial refueling aircraft used by the U.S. Air Force, Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard. It can carry up to 200,000 pounds of fuel and typically operates with a crew of three: a pilot, copilot, and boom operator. The aircraft also supports aeromedical evacuation missions and surveillance operations.

Aging Fleet and Future Replacements

The KC-135 has been in service for over 60 years, and its age has raised concerns about reliability and durability. The Air Force currently operates 376 KC-135s (151 active duty, 163 in the Air National Guard, and 62 in the Air Force Reserve). The fleet is being gradually phased out as the next-generation KC-46A Pegasus tankers enter service.

Previous KC-135 Accidents

The most recent previous fatal KC-135 accident occurred on May 3, 2013, in Kyrgyzstan, killing all three crew members after experiencing rudder problems. A significant mid-air collision occurred in 1966 in Spain, involving a B-52 bomber carrying nuclear bombs, resulting in four deaths and a large-scale decontamination effort.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.