US KC-135 plane refueling in air crashes over Iraq

The plane did not crash in any firing – CENTCOM

“This incident involved 2 aircraft. One aircraft crashed in western Iraq, while the other landed safely. This was caused neither by hostile fire nor by friendly fire. More information will be provided as the situation evolves. We ask for your patience as we gather additional information and provide clarity to the families of military personnel,” CENTCOM said in the statement.

There were 3 people on board the plane

The US Army did not say in its statement how many people were on board the plane and what is their current condition. However, media reports are suggesting that there were 3 to 6 crew members on board the plane at the time of the incident. No one has been found yet. It is being told that this incident probably happened due to the collision of planes. Refueling in the air is a very risky operation.

Iraq’s armed group took responsibility

Even though the US Army has said in its statement that the plane was not hit by any airstrike or firing, the Iran-backed armed group has denied this. The group Islamic Resistance in Iraq has claimed responsibility for downing a US military refueling plane in western Iraq. The group said in a statement that it had shot down the KC-135 aircraft in defense of its country’s sovereignty and airspace.

There is a risk of refueling in the air

A USAF KC-135 has crashed over Iraq, possibly after a mid air collision.
Aerial refueling has its perils. Pilots and crew make it look easy, but it is anything but. When things go wrong, the consequences can be catastrophic. Here is a clip from a few years back showing a near… pic.twitter.com/BIYcBVKgNQ

— Air Power (@RealAirPower1) March 12, 2026