CENTCOM Confirms 5th and 6th Crew Members Killed in Iraq KC-135 Crash
The incident occurred around 2 p.m. ET on March 12 in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-led campaign against Iran. A second KC-135 involved landed safely in Israel. CENTCOM reiterated the crash was not due to hostile or friendly fire, with an investigation ongoing.
Tommy Flynn
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on March 13, 2026, that all six crew members aboard a KC-135 Stratotanker that crashed in western Iraq the previous day have been confirmed deceased, updating earlier reports of four fatalities with rescue efforts ongoing for the remaining two.
The incident occurred around 2 p.m. ET on March 12 in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-led campaign against Iran. A second KC-135 involved landed safely in Israel. CENTCOM reiterated the crash was not due to hostile or friendly fire, with an investigation ongoing.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for downing the plane, but CENTCOM confirmed the crash was unrelated to any hostile action. Identities of the deceased are withheld pending next-of-kin notification, expected within 24 hours.
This raises the U.S. death toll in the Iran conflict to 13, including prior losses from Iranian strikes and friendly fire incidents. The crash marks the fourth U.S. aircraft lost in the war and the Air Force's first fatalities. Gen. Dan Caine, Joint Chiefs chair, described the crew as on a "combat mission."