A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in western Iraq on Thursday afternoon at approximately 2 p.m. ET, killing four of the six crew members on board. Search and rescue operations remain ongoing for the two unaccounted personnel. U.S. Central Command confirmed the incident occurred in friendly airspace and was strictly an accident, officially ruling out hostile action or friendly fire.
The fatal incident unfolded during active support for Operation Epic Fury, the ongoing U.S. military offensive targeting Iranian military infrastructure. Reports that a U.S. Air Force KC-135 refueling plane crashes in western Iraq amid Iran offensive operations mark the fourth publicly acknowledged American aircraft lost during the current conflict. A second KC-135 aircraft operating on the same mission diverted and successfully landed in Israel.
BREAKING: Four of six crew members killed in U.S. Air Force KC-135 crash in western Iraq, US military says
— The Crypto Bull (@TheCryptoBull11) March 13, 2026
The aviation accident is situated within a broader geopolitical crisis that continues to escalate. President Donald Trump issued severe warnings to Tehran on Thursday following an Iranian vow to block oil transport through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump stated the U.S. will no longer absorb proxy attacks and confirmed that federal authorities are currently investigating alleged Iranian sleeper cells and a potential drone strike plot targeting California.
Operation Epic Fury commenced on February 28, 2026. Prior to Thursday’s crash, the Pentagon had reported seven American combat fatalities and approximately 140 wounded service members since the offensive began. The economic fallout of the regional instability continues to heavily disrupt global markets, with Brent crude oil prices surging back above $100 per barrel following the naval closure threats in the Gulf.