US Refuelling Aircraft Crashes In Iraq, 4 Dead

Four crew members have been confirmed dead after a United States military refuelling aircraft crashed in western Iraq.

In a statement on Friday, United States Central Command said the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker went down at about 2 p.m. Eastern Time on March 12 while conducting operations in the region.

“Four of the six crew members on board the aircraft have been confirmed deceased as rescue efforts continue,” the statement said.

The military added that investigations are underway to determine the cause of the crash.

“However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire,” the command noted.

Officials said the identities of the victims would not be released until at least 24 hours after their families have been formally notified.

According to officials of the United States Air Force, investigators suspect the crash may have resulted from a midair collision, although the exact circumstances remain unclear.

The aircraft reportedly crashed in a remote desert area in western Iraq.

Air-to-air refuelling missions such as those carried out by the KC-135 are routine for U.S. Air Force pilots, and accidents during such operations are considered rare. However, the manoeuvre can be technically demanding, particularly in challenging weather conditions or strong winds.

The incident marks the fourth loss of a manned aircraft since the launch of Operation Epic Fury, a United States military campaign that began in late February.

None of the crashes has been attributed to hostile Iranian fire.

Earlier in March, three F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft were downed in a friendly fire incident involving F/A-18 Hornet jets operated by Kuwait.

The last time a U.S. tanker aircraft crashed was in 2013, when a KC-135 conducting refuelling missions over Afghanistan went down shortly after departing Manas Airport in Kyrgyzstan. Three airmen were killed in that accident.