New information surfaces on KC-135 refueling aircraft mishap in Iraq

Defence affairs - Def-Geopolitics on X

United States Central Command confirmed Thursday that a Boeing KC‑135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq following an incident involving another tanker aircraft during a military mission.

The incident occurred in friendly airspace while the aircraft were supporting Operation Epic Fury, a military operation targeting Iran. According to U.S. Central Command, rescue efforts began immediately after the crash as authorities worked to determine the circumstances surrounding the accident.

“The incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury, and rescue efforts are ongoing. Two aircraft were involved in the incident. One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, and the second landed safely,” CENTCOM said in a statement.

The command also stated that the crash was not the result of enemy action. CENTCOM said the incident was “not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.”

According to the statement, two tanker aircraft were involved in the event. One KC-135 crashed in western Iraq, while the second aircraft managed to land safely after the encounter.

Flight tracking data indicated that the second tanker transmitted a squawk code 7700, an internationally recognized emergency signal used by aircraft experiencing a critical situation in flight. The aircraft later landed at Ben Gurion Airport earlier in the evening.

Images circulated on social media appear to show the tanker that landed in Israel with visible structural damage. Israeli defense journalist Itay Blumental wrote on his X account that the aircraft was missing part of its vertical stabilizer.

Blumental wrote: “Documentation: one of the American refueling aircraft that was involved yesterday in the accident in Iraqi airspace was photographed at Ben Gurion Airport without a major part of the vertical stabilizer in the tail. The documentation of the aircraft reached us this morning and teaches something about the unusual accident during the strikes in Iran.”

He added that the second aircraft involved in the accident crashed in Iraq.

“The second aircraft involved in the accident crashed in Iraq, the fate of the six crew members is unknown.”

CENTCOM has not yet released details regarding casualties or the condition of the crew members aboard the aircraft that went down.

The KC-135 Stratotanker has served as one of the U.S. military’s primary aerial refueling platforms for more than six decades. Developed by Boeing, the aircraft allows fighter jets, bombers, and other military aircraft to refuel while airborne, extending their range and operational endurance.

According to the United States Air Force, a typical KC-135 mission is flown by a crew of three: a pilot, a copilot, and a boom operator who controls the refueling boom used to transfer fuel to receiving aircraft.

Some missions may include additional crew members such as a navigator, and the aircraft is capable of carrying up to 37 passengers when configured for transport.