Four U.S. Air Force crew members were killed after a military refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq during an operation in the region, according to a statement released Friday by U.S. Central Command, as reported by The New York Post.
The aircraft, identified as a KC-135 Stratotanker, went down Thursday while flying in what officials described as friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury. The aircraft had six crew members onboard at the time of the incident.
According to U.S. Central Command, four of the six personnel aboard the aircraft were killed in the crash. Two additional aircraft were involved in the mission, though the second plane landed safely.
4 crew members killed as US Air Force refueling plane crashes in Iraq https://t.co/KHqAXiZtms
— Andrea Jackson TV (@AJacksonTV) March 13, 2026
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Officials confirmed that the incident occurred during ongoing operations tied to Operation Epic Fury, but said early findings indicate the crash was not the result of hostile action.
“The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire,” the statement read.
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Military officials said the identities of the service members killed in the crash are being withheld until at least 24 hours after their families have been notified.
The KC-135 Stratotanker is a long-serving aerial refueling aircraft used by the U.S. Air Force to extend the range and endurance of military aircraft during operations around the world. These aircraft routinely operate in complex environments, including combat zones and forward-deployed theaters such as the Middle East.
The crash occurred in Iraqi airspace during the ongoing operation. Details about the exact location of the incident or the condition of the two surviving crew members were not immediately released.
On Thursday evening, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group made up of Iran-backed armed factions, issued a statement claiming responsibility for the aircraft’s loss. The group asserted that it had shot down the refueling tanker.
In its statement, the organization said it had targeted the aircraft “in defense of our country’s sovereignty and airspace.”
U.S. Central Command, however, said the preliminary findings do not support that claim.
Military officials emphasized that investigators are continuing to examine the incident and gather additional information about the circumstances that led to the crash.
The investigation is expected to review operational details, communications, mechanical systems, and other factors that could have contributed to the loss of the aircraft.
Operation Epic Fury has involved U.S. military activity in the region amid heightened tensions and ongoing security operations.
The presence of aerial refueling aircraft such as the KC-135 is critical to maintaining long-range flight operations for fighter jets, bombers, and surveillance aircraft supporting missions across the Middle East.
JUST IN : Four U.S. service members killed in a refueling aircraft crash in western Iraq on Thursday.
Pentagon briefing on “Operation Epic Fury” set for 8AM ET
pic.twitter.com/OFliFGfh1I— Officer Lew (@officer_Lew) March 13, 2026
Further details about the incident, including the identities of the crew members and additional findings from the investigation, are expected to be released after family notifications are completed and investigators conclude their preliminary review.
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