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A US Air Force Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft was lost over western Iraq on March 12, 2026, in what US Central Command described as a non-combat incident involving two aircraft in “friendly airspace” during Operation Epic Fury.

One aircraft went down in western Iraq, while the second landed safely. CENTCOM said the incident was not caused by hostile fire or friendly fire and that rescue efforts were ongoing. 

A brief CENTCOM statement left key questions unanswered, including the identity of the second aircraft, the number of crew aboard the downed tanker, and the precise sequence of events. Reporting by the Associated Press, citing US officials, said the second aircraft was also a KC-135 and that the crashed tanker had at least five crew members aboard.

Image of damaged tanker adds to collision theory

Flight-tracking data showed a KC-135 returning to Ben Gurion Airport after broadcasting an emergency code. AP reported, citing Israeli ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, that the surviving aircraft landed safely in Israel.

A photo circulating online purportedly shows a USAF Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker, 63-8017, operated by the 314th Air Refueling Squadron of the 940th Air Refueling Wing on the ground at Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) with part of its vertical stabilizer missing.

If confirmed, the involvement of two KC-135s could suggest the loss occurred during a tanker operation rather than while refueling a fighter or transport aircraft. CENTCOM has not publicly described the mission profile, nor has it said whether the two aircraft collided, were maneuvering in close formation, or were involved in some other kind of in-flight emergency. Reuters reported that the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed armed factions, claimed responsibility for downing the aircraft, though that assertion remains unsupported by public evidence.

Tanker sorties are routine, and the KC-135 remains one of the most heavily used aircraft in the Air Force inventory. The type is a core part of US air operations, extending the range and endurance of fighters, surveillance aircraft, and other military aircraft. The current Air Force inventory includes 376 KC-135s across the active-duty force, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve. 

The incident comes as US forces continue Operation Epic Fury, the campaign tied to the widening conflict with Iran. CENTCOM stressed that this incident was not linked to hostile action. 

CENTCOM said more information would be provided as the situation develops, but asked for patience while officials gather facts and provide clarity for the families of the service members involved.