All six crew members killed after US refuelling plane crashes in Iraq
All six crew members killed after US refuelling plane crashes in Iraq
A Boeing KC-135 refuelling aircraft crashed in western Iraq, resulting in the deaths of all six crew members, according to US Central Command (Centcom). The incident occurred around 14:00 ET (19:00 GMT) on Thursday. Initial reports indicated four bodies had been recovered, but Centcom later confirmed all six were accounted for. The crash involved two aircraft, with the second plane managing to land safely.
The KC-135, a midair refuelling plane, has been critical to US military operations, enabling combat aircraft to extend their range. It was deployed in ongoing efforts against Iran. Centcom stated that neither hostile nor friendly fire caused the accident, though the crash site lies in an area where pro-Iranian militias are active.
“The plane had crashed while the crew was on a combat mission,” said Gen Dan Caine, chair of the US Joint Chiefs, during a news conference on Friday.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised the crew as “American heroes,” emphasizing their “sacrifice will only recommit us to the resolve of this mission.” The identities of the victims were withheld for 24 hours to allow next of kin to be notified. Centcom noted the crash circumstances are under investigation.
The US-Israel war with Iran has now claimed 13 military lives, with at least four aircraft lost since the conflict began two weeks ago. Earlier this month, three F-15s were shot down in Kuwait in what officials called an “apparent friendly fire incident.”
Boeing manufactured the KC-135 Stratotanker in the 1950s and early 1960s, and it remains a key asset in US air refuelling operations. The plane’s crew typically includes a pilot, co-pilot, and boom operator. Iran’s military claimed on state TV that an allied group had targeted the aircraft with a missile.
Separately, France reported that a drone strike killed Staff Sgt Arnaud Frion and wounded six others at a Kurdish military base in northern Iraq. Israel announced a new wave of strikes targeting Iranian infrastructure in Tehran, with explosions reported in and near the capital. This followed the US lifting sanctions on countries purchasing Russian oil to mitigate the economic effects of the conflict.
Oil prices surged above $100 (£75) per barrel on Thursday, while stock markets dipped after three cargo vessels were attacked in the Gulf. US President Donald Trump suggested the war could end “very soon” due to rising oil costs, though he hinted at potential escalation.
