Four US crew members died after a military refueling plane crashed in Iraq

United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed that four American service members died after a Boeing KC‑135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq.

According to the US military, the crash occurred on Thursday afternoon but was not related to enemy action.

In a statement posted on X on Friday, CENTCOM revealed that rescue operations were still ongoing at the crash site.

“Four of the six crew members have been confirmed dead as rescue efforts continue,” the command said.

The military added that other aircraft involved in the operation were able to land safely after the incident.

Officials also rejected the notion that the crash was caused by hostile forces.

An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash has begun, the command said, stressing that “the disappearance of the aircraft was not due to enemy or friendly fire.”

These latest deaths bring the number of US soldiers killed since the start of the conflict with Iran to at least eleven.

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Previously, the Iranian military claimed that the plane was shot down by an allied militia group operating in Iraq.

The claim was broadcast on Iranian state television, which reported that the plane was hit by a missile.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq – a coalition of Iranian-backed armed factions – also said it was responsible for the incident, stating that it had downed a KC-135 and attempted to attack another plane which then fled.

Since the conflict erupted in late February, the alliance has repeatedly announced attacks on American military assets and facilities in Iraq and the Middle East, although the group rarely identifies specific targets.

The KC-135 refueling aircraft involved in the crash was one of several US military aircraft lost during the war. This follows the loss of three McDonnell Douglas F‑15E Strike Eagle fighter jets which were mistakenly shot down by allied forces in Kuwait.

Although the plane was destroyed, the fighter’s six crew members survived after ejecting safely, according to CENTCOM.

The military command previously explained that the gunfight incident occurred during intensive combat operations that included “strikes from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles and drones.”

The KC-135 Stratotanker, which has been in service for more than six decades, is primarily used by the United States Air Force to refuel other aircraft during flights.

Typically, the aircraft operates with a crew of three – the pilot, copilot and a boom operator responsible for the refueling system – although certain missions may involve additional personnel such as a navigator or passengers.