US KC-135 tanker crashes in Iraq, though not from enemy fire, officials say

A U.S. KC-135 aerial tanker has gone down over western Iraq, military officials announced Thursday. Rescue efforts are ongoing, according to a brief news release from U.S. Central Command, or CENTCOM.

The incident took place in uncontested airspace while it was flying in support of the ongoing U.S. military operations against Iran that began on Feb. 28, the news release says.

“Two aircraft were involved in the incident,” the news release says. “One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, and the second landed safely. This was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.”

An Associated Press reporter posted on social media that the second aircraft was also a KC-135.

No further information was immediately available about the circumstances of the incident or how many U.S. troops were aboard the KC-135. Most KC-135s fly with 3 crew members, according to an Air Force fact sheet — a pilot, co-pilot and a boom operator, who “flies” the refueling probe, or boom, from the rear of the aircraft (older models may also fly with a navigator).

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Source: Task & Purpose
Website: taskandpurpose.com