A U.S. military refueling aircraft went down in western Iraq during Operation Epic Fury, with rescue teams moving in as officials worked to determine the condition of the crew. U.S. Central Command said the incident happened in friendly airspace and involved two aircraft operating in the same mission.
The command said one KC-135 aircraft crashed while the second landed safely. Early statements also said the incident was not caused by hostile fire or friendly fire, narrowing the focus to other possible causes as the military continues its response.
The KC-135 is a long-serving aerial refueling aircraft used to support combat and surveillance missions by extending the range of other planes in the air. Its role is especially important during large-scale regional operations, where aircraft often need fuel support far from base.
Officials have not released a full account of what led to the crash, and no final casualty details were immediately available. More information is expected as recovery and rescue efforts continue in western Iraq.