Trending Now - Four Americans Dead After Military Aircraft Crash in Iraq

WHO:

U.S. Central Command stated that the incident occurred during Operation Epic Fury.

U.S. Air Force

U.S. Central Command

Multiple U.S. officials

WHAT:

U.S. Central Command confirmed that all six crew members aboard the KC-135 refueling aircraft that crashed are now confirmed dead.

Gen. Dan Caine stated, “The incident occurred over friendly territory in western Iraq while the crew was on a combat mission, and again, was not the result... of hostile or friendly fire.”

U.S. Central Command indicated that the KC-135 aircraft involved in the crash is not equipped with parachutes or ejection seats, as these are primarily found in fighter aircraft.

Four U.S. service members were confirmed dead in the crash of the KC-135 refueling aircraft.

Rescue efforts are ongoing for the remaining two crew members.

U.S. Central Command stated that “four airmen have been recovered” during the ongoing rescue operation.

The crash is the fourth publicly acknowledged U.S. aircraft crash connected to Operation Epic Fury.

Four crew members were confirmed dead in the crash of the KC-135 refueling aircraft.

The crash occurred at approximately 2 p.m. ET on March 12th, 2026, during an incident involving two KC-135 tankers.

The crash brings the total number of U.S. service members killed since the U.S. and Israel launched the war with Iran on February 28th, 2026, to 11, including six killed in an Iranian strike on Kuwait and one in Saudi Arabia.

U.S. Central Command stated that the circumstances of the incident are currently under investigation.

Four of six crew members aboard the KC-135 refueling aircraft have been confirmed deceased as rescue efforts continue.

The crash occurred at approximately 2 p.m. ET on March 12th, 2026.

The crash brings the total number of U.S. service members killed since the U.S. and Israel launched the war with Iran on February 28th, 2026, to 11.

The identities of the deceased service members will be withheld until 24 hours after next of kin have been notified.

U.S. Central Command stated that the circumstances of the incident are currently under investigation.

U.S. Central Command stated that “rescue efforts are ongoing” and did not confirm any fatalities.

A second KC-135 tanker declared an emergency before landing safely in Tel Aviv on March 12th, 2026, according to flight tracking service FlightRadar24.

At least five crew members were aboard the KC-135 Stratotanker that went down.

A typical KC-135 flight crew includes three to four service members, which may consist of a pilot, a copilot, and a boom operator.

A U.S. Air Force refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq.

The aircraft involved was a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.

The status of the crew is unknown.

Recovery efforts are ongoing in the crash area.

A second KC-135 tanker was damaged but landed safely.

The incident was not caused by hostile fire or friendly fire.

WHERE:

The crash site is near Turaibil, which is along the Iraqi-Jordanian border.

Western Iraq

Tel Aviv, Israel (where the second aircraft landed)

WHEN:

The crash occurred on March 12th, 2026, at approximately 2 p.m. ET.

The crash occurred on March 12th, 2026, during the same day as the second aircraft's emergency landing.

The crash occurred on March 12th, 2026.

The second aircraft declared an emergency and landed safely on March 12th, 2026.

WHY:

The crash is the fourth publicly acknowledged U.S. aircraft crash connected to Operation Epic Fury.

The aircraft were supporting U.S. military operations in Iran.

HOW:

U.S. Central Command is treating the incident as an active rescue and recovery operation.

Gen. Dan Caine stated that the incident is being treated as an active rescue and recovery mission.

U.S. officials indicated that the incident may have involved a mid-air collision, but investigations are ongoing.

U.S. officials have indicated that the incident may have involved a mid-air collision, but investigations are ongoing.

The incident was described as occurring in “friendly airspace” during Operation Epic Fury.

The incident involved two KC-135 tankers, with one crashing and the other landing safely in Tel Aviv.

The incident involved two KC-135 tankers.

(UPDATED March 13, 2026 19:15 UTC)

U.S. Central Command has confirmed that all six crew members aboard the KC-135 refueling aircraft that crashed on March 12 are now confirmed dead. General Dan Caine stated that the incident occurred over friendly territory in western Iraq during a combat mission and was not caused by hostile or friendly fire, noting that the KC-135 is not equipped with parachutes or ejection seats. As the situation unfolds, U.S. Central Command is treating the incident as an active rescue and recovery operation.

(UPDATED March 13, 2026 15:09 UTC)

In a tragic incident, four U.S. service members have been confirmed dead following the crash of a KC-135 refueling aircraft, with ongoing rescue efforts for the remaining two crew members. U.S. Central Command reported that four airmen have been recovered during these operations, which are being treated as an active rescue and recovery mission according to General Dan Caine. This crash marks the fourth publicly acknowledged U.S. aircraft incident connected to Operation Epic Fury.

(UPDATED March 13, 2026 13:18 UTC)

Tragically, four crew members were confirmed dead following the crash of a KC-135 refueling aircraft, which occurred around 2 p.m. ET on March 12 during an incident involving two KC-135 tankers. This incident brings the total number of U.S. service members killed since the start of the war with Iran on February 28 to 11, including six from an Iranian strike on Kuwait and one in Saudi Arabia. U.S. Central Command has stated that the circumstances of the crash are under investigation, with officials suggesting it may have involved a mid-air collision, marking this as the fourth publicly acknowledged U.S. aircraft crash related to Operation Epic Fury.

(UPDATED March 13, 2026 11:07 UTC)

A tragic incident occurred yesterday afternoon when a KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed near Turaibil, along the Iraqi-Jordanian border, resulting in the confirmed deaths of four of the six crew members on board. This crash marks the fourth publicly acknowledged U.S. aircraft incident linked to Operation Epic Fury, bringing the total number of U.S. service members killed since the war with Iran began on February 28 to 11. U.S. Central Command is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash, which officials suggest may have involved a mid-air collision, and the identities of the deceased will be withheld until next of kin are notified.

(UPDATED March 13, 2026 09:07 UTC)

U.S. Central Command announced that rescue efforts are ongoing following an incident described as occurring in "friendly airspace" during Operation Epic Fury, but they have not confirmed any fatalities. Additionally, a second KC-135 tanker declared an emergency before landing safely in Tel Aviv yesterday. Flight tracking service FlightRadar24 reported on the situation at 09:07 UTC today.

(UPDATED March 13, 2026 03:42 UTC)

U.S. Central Command has reported that a KC-135 Stratotanker crashed during Operation Epic Fury on March 12, 2026, with at least five crew members aboard. Typically, a KC-135 flight crew consists of three to four service members, including a pilot, a copilot, and a boom operator. The incident involved two KC-135 tankers, with one crashing while the other managed to land safely in Tel Aviv.

(UPDATED March 13, 2026 01:28 UTC)

A U.S. Air Force refueling aircraft, a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, crashed in western Iraq on March 12, and the status of the crew remains unknown as recovery efforts are currently underway. A second KC-135 tanker, which was also involved in the incident, declared an emergency but managed to land safely in Tel Aviv, Israel, and it has been confirmed that the crash was not due to hostile or friendly fire. Both aircraft were supporting U.S. military operations in Iran at the time of the incident.