According to the report by New York Post on Friday, 13 March 2026, Four crew members have died following the crash of a United States Air Force refueling aircraft in Iraq, according to a statement released by United States Central Command on Friday.
The aircraft, a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, was carrying six personnel when it went down on Thursday during a mission linked to Operation Epic Fury. Military officials said the aircraft was operating in what they described as “friendly airspace” at the time of the incident.
In its preliminary assessment, Central Command noted that the crash was not caused by hostile or friendly fire, adding that the exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation. Two aircraft were reportedly involved in the mission, with the second plane landing safely.
Authorities also confirmed that the identities of the deceased service members are being withheld until at least 24 hours after their families have been formally notified. See More/Read Original