A United States military refueling aircraft has crashed in western Iraq, leaving four crew members dead.
According to the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), the aircraft involved was a Boeing KC‑135 Stratotanker operated by the United States Air Force. The plane reportedly went down during an operation, killing four of the six crew members on board.
CENTCOM confirmed that rescue operations are ongoing following the crash. The command also stated that the incident was not caused by either hostile or friendly fire.
Officials added that another aircraft participating in the same mission landed safely after the accident.
The KC-135 Stratotanker, developed by Boeing in the late 1950s and early 1960s, is designed for midair refueling and plays a critical role in extending the operational range of fighter jets and bombers during military missions.
Authorities said investigations are underway to determine the cause of the crash. The identities of the deceased personnel have not yet been released, pending notification of their families.
U.S. officials further clarified that the aircraft crashed in friendly airspace and that the incident was not connected to combat operations.
The crash marks the fourth loss of a U.S. military aircraft in the ongoing conflict. Earlier this month, three McDonnell Douglas F‑15 Eagle fighter jets were downed in Kuwait, although all crew members in those incidents survived.
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