Six U.S. service members were killed when a KC‑135 refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on March 12, 2026, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed Friday.
The aircraft was flying over what U.S. officials described as friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury, a campaign supporting U.S. military operations in the region. CENTCOM said the crash was not caused by hostile fire or friendly fire, and the exact circumstances remain under investigation.
The KC‑135 Stratotanker, a long‑serving aerial refueling aircraft, was part of a mission involving two refueling tankers; a second aircraft landed safely after the incident, CENTCOM said.
Officials have not released the identities of the deceased pending notification of their next of kin. The crash marked the first confirmed Air Force fatalities in the ongoing operations, which began in late February. According to U.S. authorities, at least 13 U.S. service members have now died in the broader conflict, including those killed by hostile fire.
CENTCOM said recovery efforts are complete at the crash site and that investigators are working to determine the cause of the incident.