March 13, (THEWILL) — All six U.S. service members aboard an American aerial refueling aircraft have been confirmed dead after the plane crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, U.S. military officials said, marking one of the deadliest single incidents for U.S. forces in the region amid the ongoing conflict tied to Iran.
The U.S. military confirmed the total death toll after initial reports indicated four fatalities.
The aircraft, a Boeing KC‑135 Stratotanker, went down at about 2 p.m. Eastern Time on March 12 while operating in what the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) described as “friendly airspace” during a mission linked to broader operations against Iran.
A second KC‑135 tanker involved in the same mission landed safely after the incident.
In an update on Friday, CENTCOM said all six crew members aboard the downed tanker were confirmed deceased. The command reiterated that the crash was not caused by hostile fire or friendly fire, and said the circumstances of the incident remain under investigation.
The identities of those killed have not yet been released pending notification of next of kin.
The KC‑135 Stratotanker is a central component of U.S. aerial refueling capability, extending the range and endurance of combat and support aircraft during operations.
Its loss further underscores the risks inherent in such missions, especially amid intensive military activity.
The crash comes as U.S. and allied forces continue operations in the Middle East linked to escalations involving Iran, with multiple aircraft incidents and service member casualties reported since late February.
Although some pro‑Iranian militia groups have claimed responsibility for downing the aircraft, U.S. officials have not confirmed enemy action as the cause of the crash.
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