On Thursday, March 12, 2026, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) reported the crash of a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft over Iraq during Operation Epic Fury. There were six crew members on board.
Photo: Airman 1st Class Matthew Seefeldt, USAF
“U.S. Central Command is aware of the loss of a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft. The incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury, and rescue efforts are ongoing. Two aircraft were involved in the incident. One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, and the second landed safely.
This was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.
More information will be made available as the situation develops. We ask for continued patience to gather additional details and provide clarity for the families of service members.”
CENTCOM
U.S. Central Command is aware of the loss of a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft. The incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury, and rescue efforts are ongoing. Two aircraft were involved in the incident. One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, and the…
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 12, 2026
This is the first loss of a KC-135 in nearly 13 years, since May 3, 2013, when a KC-135R (serial number 63-8877) belonging to the USAF 22nd Air Refueling Wing from McConnell Air Force Base crashed in Kyrgyzstan, near the village of Chaldybar, about 160 km west of Manas Airport, from which it had taken off.
According to sources from the Israeli newspaper The Times of Israel and the American broadcaster CBS, two KC-135 Stratotanker tankers were involved in the incident. According to data available on commercial ADS-B flight tracking maps and reports from aviation spotters, a KC-135RT had made an emergency landing at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv earlier that day after reporting a malfunction during flight. The KC-135RT variant is one of the few capable of receiving fuel in flight from another tanker.
#USAF United States Air Force – 🚨 Emergency
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker 1x#AE07C1 63-8017 – MOBIL ??
USAF KC-135 63-8017 is squawking 7700 General Emergency off the Israeli coast, and appears to be burning down some fuel before landing.
This particular KC-135 is 62 years old… pic.twitter.com/c27w7b0Qpj
— Armchair Admiral 🇬🇧 (@ArmchairAdml) March 12, 2026
In Flight Emergency for Tanker over Tel Aviv #FreeIran
— Operation EPIC FURY —KC-135R „YETI??” 63-8017 #AE07C1
Has begun squawking 7700 indicating an emergency@MATA_osint @AnAustinThing2 pic.twitter.com/sYOJ593Sbm
— DefenceGeek 🇬🇧 (@DefenceGeek) March 12, 2026
Later, a photograph of the second aircraft, bearing serial number 63-8017, appeared. The aircraft managed to make an emergency landing, and the image shows that half of its vertical tail fin is missing.
Reported image showing one of the USAF KC-135s involved in the mid-air collision over Iraq today, back on the ground in Tel Aviv.
The tanker can be seen missing nearly half of its vertical stabilizer. pic.twitter.com/d1UHNWZnGq
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 13, 2026
A better look at the partially sliced-off tail of the USAF KC-135 involved in the mid-air collision over Iraq yesterday, back on the ground in Tel Aviv. pic.twitter.com/Vll73nrr8G
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 13, 2026
Earlier, on March 2 this year, the United States lost three Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle multirole aircraft over Kuwait, which were accidentally shot down by a Kuwaiti F/A-18 Hornet.
KC-135 Stratotanker
The KC-135 entered service in June 1957. Between 1955 and the end of production in 1965, a total of 803 aircraft of this type were built in various variants, ranging from the earliest KC-135A to the KC-135T equipped with CFM International CFM56-2 engines. Currently, 153 Stratotankers remain in active service, a further 171 operate with the Air National Guard, and 52 are assigned to the Air Force Reserve. The aircraft is capable of carrying 200,000 pounds (90,719 kg) of aviation fuel and transporting cargo with a maximum weight of 83,000 pounds (37,648 kg).
The KC-135, operated by a three-person crew (pilot, co-pilot, and boom operator), was developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype (Dash 80). This aircraft was funded internally by Boeing, which invested 16 million USD to develop it as a demonstrator for a commercial jet airliner. In its final form as the Boeing 707, it became the company’s first passenger jetliner, which, together with the Douglas DC-8, came to dominate the commercial aviation market of the time.
UPDATE
CENTCOM has released a new press statement:
Four Confirmed Deceased in Loss of U.S. KC-135 Over Iraq
TAMPA, Fla. – At approximately 2 pm ET on March 12, a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft went down in western Iraq. Four of six crew members on board the aircraft have been confirmed deceased as rescue efforts continue.
The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.
The identities of the service members are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin have been notified.
Four Confirmed Deceased in Loss of U.S. KC-135 Over Iraq
TAMPA, Fla. – At approximately 2 pm ET on March 12, a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft went down in western Iraq. Four of six crew members on board the aircraft have been confirmed deceased as rescue efforts continue.
The…
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 13, 2026
UPDATE 2
CENTCOM confirmed the deaths of all six crew members.
All Crew Members of U.S. KC-135 Loss in Iraq Confirmed Deceased
TAMPA, Fla. – All six crew members aboard a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft that went down in western Iraq are now confirmed deceased. The aircraft was lost while flying over friendly airspace March 12 during…
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 13, 2026
UPDATE 3
On Friday, the American newspaper The Wall Street Journal reported that several days earlier an Iranian attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in central Saudi Arabia had reportedly damaged five KC-135 aircraft. No fatalities or injuries were reported, but the aircraft were taken out of operational service – at least for the time being.
UPDATE 4
The U.S. Air Force has released the list of victims of the KC-135 crash in Iraq:
- Major John A. Klinner, 33, from Auburn, Alabama, assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida;
- Captain Ariana G. Savino, 31, from Covington, Washington, assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida;
- Staff Sergeant Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, from Bardstown, Kentucky, assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida;
- Captain Seth R. Koval, 38, from Mooresville, Indiana, assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing, Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Columbus, Ohio;
- Captain Curtis J. Angst, 30, from Wilmington, Ohio, assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing, Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Columbus, Ohio;
- Staff Sergeant Tyler H. Simmons, 28, from Columbus, Ohio, assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing, Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Columbus, Ohio.
Shannon and I join our entire National Guard family in mourning the loss of six brave KC-135 Airmen, including three Ohio Air National Guardsmen assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing and three active-duty Airmen from the 99th Air Refueling Squadron, a partner unit with the… pic.twitter.com/4GuUAt87TN
— Gen. Steven Nordhaus (@ChiefNGB) March 15, 2026
We will never forget the KC-135 crew, Zeus 95, that paid the ultimate sacrifice. These heroes make up our total force team and we mourn with their families. Their memory strengthens our resolve to fight, as we carry their legacy forward. NKAWTG…N!https://t.co/XGJKl3cBng
— General Ken Wilsbach (@OfficialCSAF) March 15, 2026
I'm continuing to keep the families of our fallen Airmen in my thoughts and prayers.https://t.co/q701WzT49a
— Office of the Secretary of the Air Force (@SecAFOfficial) March 15, 2026
We remember the Airmen we lost, and we mourn alongside their families, loved ones and teammates.https://t.co/n6o1JHyaUJ
— U.S. Air Force (@usairforce) March 15, 2026
— General Ken Wilsbach (@OfficialCSAF) March 13, 2026
— Office of the Secretary of the Air Force (@SecAFOfficial) March 13, 2026