WASHINGTON — A US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker air refueler crashed in Iraq due to an “incident” that “occurred in friendly airspace,” US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement late Thursday.
Casualties and circumstances surrounding the crash are not immediately clear. According to CENTCOM, the incident was “not due to hostile or friendly fire” and occurred during Operation Epic Fury, the US military’s name for the war against Iran.
Three US F-15s were recently shot down over Kuwait in a friendly fire incident, but all pilots involved ejected safely. The Stratotanker, however, does not have ejection seats. CENTCOM said “rescue efforts are ongoing.”
A second aircraft was apparently involved in events that precipitated the tanker’s crash, though it’s not clear if it occurred amid a refueling mission. The other aircraft “landed safely” according to CENTCOM, which did not describe the aircraft in question.
The incident would appear to be the first crash of a KC-135 since 2013, where three crew members died in a mishap shortly after takeoff.
Mobility platforms like the KC-135 Stratotanker have surged to the Middle East to support ongoing operations against Tehran, providing fuel to get aircraft across the Atlantic or extending time on station for jets striking Iranian targets. The large plane, with a wingspan of 130 feet, is more vulnerable to enemy fire than newer, sophisticated jets like stealth fighters, and typically operates outside of contested environments as a result.
The KC-135 constitutes the backbone of the United States’ air refueling fleet. The Air Force is in the process of replacing the aging refueler, which debuted during the Eisenhower administration, with the newer Boeing KC-46 Pegasus.
Despite its age, military officials expect the Stratotanker will operate until 2050 or possibly even longer.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
