The tanker was reportedly lost after an incident involving another aircraft in friendly airspace over western Iraq; the second aircraft landed safely.
A KC-135 was lost during Operation Epic Fury, U.S. Central Command announced on Mar. 12, 2026.
Here’s the statement released by 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 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.
