A US Military Refueling Aircraft ‘Went Down’ in Iraq

A US navy KC-135 refueling aircraft concerned in Operation Epic Fury has crashed in Iraq, US Central Command mentioned in an announcement on Friday night.

“Central Command is conscious of the lack of a US KC-135 refueling plane,” the command, which oversees US navy operations within the Center East, mentioned, including that the incident concerned two plane working in pleasant airspace in assist of Epic Fury.

One plane “went down” in western Iraq, whereas a second unidentified plane landed safely. The plane loss “was not because of hostile hearth or pleasant hearth,” CENTCOM mentioned.

This marks the fourth American plane loss for the reason that begin of Operation Epic Fury, the Pentagon’s title for US operations in opposition to Iran, almost two weeks in the past. Simply days into the warfare, CENTCOM introduced that three American F-15E Strike Eagles had been downed by pleasant hearth over Kuwait. The plane had been misplaced, however all six aircrew members had been capable of eject safely.

The KC-135 Stratotanker is an Air Pressure asset that helps the broader joint pressure by refueling different plane — together with fighter jets, bombers, and cargo plane — in notoriously complicated midair refueling operations. It is primarily a flying gasoline station that executes gas transfers at excessive pace with plane in shut proximity.

The KC-135 sometimes carries a three-person crew — a pilot, co-pilot, and increase operator. The standing of the crew shouldn’t be recognized presently. CENTCOM mentioned rescue operations are ongoing.