US KC-135 Plane Crash: Death Toll in Refuelling Aircraft Crash in Iraq Rises to 6, Says CENTCOM
CENTCOM has confirmed all 6 crew members died in a KC-135 tanker crash in western Iraq. The accident, part of Operation Epic Fury, involved two aircraft but was not caused by hostile fire. This brings the US death toll in the war with Iran to 13. Rescue efforts have concluded, and an investigation into the crash is underway.
New York, March 13: US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on Friday, March 13, that all six crew members aboard a KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft are deceased following a crash in western Iraq. The incident occurred at approximately 2:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 12, 2026, while the aircraft was operating in friendly airspace as part of Operation Epic Fury.
While initial reports on Friday morning confirmed four fatalities, a subsequent update clarified that no survivors were found among the six personnel on board. The crash took place near the Turaibil border crossing along the Iraqi-Jordanian border during a combat support mission. A second KC-135 aircraft involved in the same mission was also damaged but managed to make an emergency landing at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel. US KC-135 Plane Crash: 4 American Crew Members Killed After Refuelling Aircraft Crashes in Iraq, Confirms CENTCOM.
CENTCOM Confirms All 6 Crew Members on US KC-135 Plane Dead in Crash
6 Dead Following US KC-135 Plane Crash in Iraq
Military officials have explicitly ruled out hostile or friendly fire as the cause of the loss, stating that the circumstances remain under active investigation. Preliminary assessments from defense officials suggest a mid-air collision may have occurred during complex refueling maneuvers.
Casualties and Next of Kin Notification
The identities of the six fallen service members are currently being withheld as the military follows its standard protocol. Per CENTCOM's policy, names will be released 24 hours after all next of kin have been formally notified. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the crew as "American heroes" during a Pentagon briefing on Friday, emphasising that their sacrifice would recommit the U.S. to the resolve of the ongoing mission. US Military Refueling Plane Crash: KC-135 Aircraft Crashes in Iraq, Rescue Efforts Underway.
This tragic event brings the total number of U.S. military fatalities since the start of the conflict on February 28 to 13. Previous casualties include seven soldiers killed in missile and drone strikes on bases in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
The KC-135 Stratotanker is the primary workhorse for the U.S. Air Force’s aerial refueling fleet. These tankers are essential for Operation Epic Fury, providing the fuel necessary for fighter jets and bombers to conduct long-range strikes against Iranian military infrastructure.
Because these aircraft carry massive amounts of fuel and lack ejection seats for the crew, any mid-air incident is historically catastrophic. This crash marks the first loss of an Air Force tanker in combat support operations since 2013 and the fourth crewed U.S. aircraft lost since the current campaign against Iran began.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 13, 2026 08:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).