US KC-135 refueling aircraft crashes in Western Iraq during mid-air mission
Preliminary investigators are examining the possibility that the two aircraft may have collided during flight, which could have led to the crash.
KATHMANDU: A US military refueling aircraft has crashed in the western desert of Iraq during a flight mission, according to the United States Central Command.
The aircraft, identified as a Boeing KC‑135 Stratotanker, was involved in an “incident” on Thursday while flying alongside another aircraft. CENTCOM said the second aircraft landed safely, while the KC-135 went down in the desert region.
US officials clarified that the crash was not caused by hostile fire or friendly fire. Although some international media speculated that the aircraft might have been shot down amid rising tensions with Iran, CENTCOM firmly rejected those claims.
Preliminary investigators are examining the possibility that the two aircraft may have collided during flight, which could have led to the crash.
A KC-135 typically carries three to five crew members, but the US military has not yet disclosed how many people were on board at the time of the accident or their condition. CENTCOM said rescue operations are ongoing in friendly airspace.
The KC-135 is one of the most widely used aircraft in the history of the United States Air Force, designed to perform complex air-to-air refueling missions for fighter jets, surveillance aircraft, and cargo planes during flight.
According to reporting by The New York Times, the aircraft was part of military operations linked to joint activities by the US and Israel amid tensions involving Iran. Authorities say further details and confirmation of casualties are still pending.
