Four Crew Members Killed As US Military Aircraft Crashes In Iraq

Four members of the crew aboard a United States military refuelling aircraft have died after the plane crashed in western Iraq.

In a statement on Friday, the United States Central Command said the aircraft, a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, went down around 2 p.m. Eastern Time on March 12 while carrying out operations in the region.

“Four of six crew members on board the aircraft have been confirmed deceased as rescue efforts continue,” the statement reads.

The military said an investigation has begun to determine what caused the accident.

“However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire,” the statement added.

The military also explained that the names of the deceased will not be made public until at least 24 hours after their families have been officially informed.

According to officials from the United States Air Force, early indications suggest the aircraft might have collided with another aircraft in midair, although the exact cause has not yet been confirmed.

The plane came down in a remote desert area in western Iraq.

The latest fatalities raise the number of US service members who have died in the current conflict involving Iran to at least 11.

Earlier, Iran’s military released a statement through state television claiming that a group allied with Tehran in Iraq shot down the aircraft with a missile, killing everyone on board.

A coalition known as Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which consists of several Iran-backed Iraqi factions, also claimed responsibility.

The group said it brought down a KC-135 Stratotanker and attempted to strike another aircraft that managed to escape.

Since the war in the Middle East began, the alliance has repeatedly announced attacks on American interests in Iraq and other parts of the region, though it usually does not reveal the specific targets involved.

The tanker aircraft is believed to be the fourth U.S. military plane lost since the conflict started.

Earlier losses included three F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets that were accidentally shot down by friendly forces over Kuwait.

The KC-135 tanker has been in service for more than six decades.

According to the United States Air Force, the aircraft normally operates with a crew of three: a pilot, a co-pilot, and a boom operator responsible for transferring fuel to other planes during flight.

Some missions may also include a navigator, and the aircraft can carry as many as 37 passengers depending on operational needs.

Shortly after the conflict began on February 28, Kuwaiti forces mistakenly shot down three American F-15E fighter jets.

Despite the incident, all six crew members managed to eject safely, according to US Central Command.

At the time, the military command said the event happened during active combat operations that involved attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones.

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