The U.S. military’s Central Command says a its KC-135 refueling aircraft involved in American operations against Iran had crashed in neighboring Iraq.
In a statement released on Thursday, Central Command said an incident involving two aircraft occurred in friendly airspace. One aircraft went down, while the other landed safely.
Officials said the crash was not caused by hostile fire or friendly fire.
U.S. military authorities added that rescue teams had been sent to the crash site. A KC-135 typically carries a crew of at least three people.
The last crash involving an American tanker aircraft occurred in 2013, when a KC-135 conducting refueling missions over Afghanistan crashed shortly after taking off from Manas Airport in Kyrgyzstan. Three airmen were killed in that incident.
KC-135 aircraft are among the most frequently used planes in the U.S. Air Force fleet and are also some of its oldest. They are designed to refuel a wide range of aircraft, including fighter jets, surveillance planes, and cargo aircraft.
A U.S. official said the second aircraft involved in the incident was also a KC-135 and it landed safely.
Air-to-air refueling missions are routine for Air Force pilots and accidents are uncommon. However, the maneuver can still be difficult, especially in poor weather or strong winds. Investigators believe a midair collision may have caused the crash, though details remain unclear, Air Force officials said. The investigation is ongoing, alongside search and rescue efforts to locate the downed crew.
This marks the fourth manned aircraft lost since Operation Epic Fury began in late February, although none of the crashes have been attributed to Iranian hostile fire.