All six crew members aboard a US military aircraft that crashed in western Iraq on Thursday were killed, the US military said on Friday, adding that the cause of the incident remains under investigation.
The aircraft involved in the crash was a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, a key platform used by the US Air Force to refuel fighter jets and other aircraft during long-range missions.
Officials said the crash occurred in western Iraq during a military operation, with the aircraft going down in what the command described as friendly airspace.
The US military said early assessments indicate that hostile fire or other combat activity was not responsible for the crash.
“The loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire, and the circumstances surrounding the incident are currently under investigation,” the military said in a statement issued by United States Central Command.
Rescue teams were deployed following the incident, but all six service members aboard the aircraft were confirmed dead.
The aircraft was operating as part of a US military campaign targeting Iran, referred to by officials as Operation Epic Fury.
Meanwhile, a coalition of armed groups operating in Iraq known as Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for shooting down the aircraft.
The group said the action was carried out “in defence of our country’s sovereignty and airspace,” according to reports cited by Reuters.
However, US military officials said there was currently no evidence indicating that the aircraft was brought down by hostile action.
A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the situation remains under investigation, said that another aircraft involved in the incident was also a KC-135 aerial tanker.
Military authorities said further details would be released after investigators determine the cause of the crash.
“More information will be made available as the situation develops,” Central Command said, asking for patience while officials gather details and notify families of the service members.
The KC-135 tanker aircraft, manufactured by Boeing during the 1950s and early 1960s, has long served as a cornerstone of the US military’s aerial refuelling fleet.
Its role allows combat aircraft to extend their operational range by refuelling mid-air, eliminating the need to land during long missions.
According to Associated Press, the crash marks the fourth publicly known aircraft loss during ongoing US military operations linked to the conflict with Iran.
Earlier this month, the US military confirmed that three American fighter jets were accidentally shot down by friendly Kuwaiti fire during the conflict.
Officials said the pilots aboard those aircraft, identified as F-15E Strike Eagles, were able to eject safely and were later rescued.
The broader conflict has also resulted in casualties among US forces deployed in the region.
Seven American troops have been reported killed since hostilities began. Six service members died after an Iranian drone struck an operations centre at a civilian port in Kuwait, while another soldier died from wounds sustained during an attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.
The Pentagon has also reported that approximately 140 US service members have been wounded in the conflict, including several who suffered severe injuries.
Military officials said investigations into the aircraft crash in Iraq are continuing. [KNT]
