Crash of U. S. refueling plane in Iraq claims four crew lives

A military tanker crashed in western Iraq on Thursday while flying a refueling mission linked to the Iran war. The U. S. Central Command said that the KC‑135 aircraft went down around 2 p. m. ET, and four of its six crew members were confirmed dead. The status of the remaining two people is unknown, but rescue teams are still searching for them. The incident was not caused by enemy or friendly fire. Investigators are looking into how it happened, and a second aircraft involved in the event managed to land safely. Because of military protocol, the names of those who died will not be released until a day after their families are notified.This accident brings the total number of active U. S. service members killed since February 28—when U. S. forces began joint operations with Israel against Iranian targets—to ten, plus an eleventh death from a medical issue. Last week, Kuwait accidentally shot down three U. S. fighter jets, but all crew survived. The KC‑135 Stratotanker, worth about $40 million each, has been a staple of U. S. air refueling for more than six decades. It can also serve as a medical evacuation platform, usually carrying three crew members but expanding to five when needed for patient transport. The story is still unfolding. Updates will be posted as new information becomes available.