"Central Command is aware of the loss of a US KC-135 refueling aircraft. The incident involved two aircraft operating in friendly airspace in support of Epic Fury. One aircraft went down in western Iraq, while a second unidentified aircraft landed safely. The aircraft loss was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire."
"The KC-135 Stratotanker is an Air Force asset that supports the broader joint force by refueling other aircraft - including fighter jets, bombers, and cargo aircraft - in notoriously complex midair refueling operations. It's essentially a flying gas station that executes fuel transfers at high speed with aircraft in close proximity."
"This marks the fourth American aircraft loss since the start of Operation Epic Fury, the Pentagon's name for US operations against Iran, nearly two weeks ago. Just days into the war, CENTCOM announced that three American F-15E Strike Eagles were downed by friendly fire over Kuwait."
A US military KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Friday as part of Operation Epic Fury, the Pentagon's designation for US operations against Iran. A second unidentified aircraft involved in the incident landed safely. CENTCOM confirmed the loss was not caused by hostile or friendly fire. This represents the fourth American aircraft loss since operations began nearly two weeks ago. Previously, three F-15E Strike Eagles were downed by friendly fire over Kuwait, though all six crew members ejected safely. The KC-135 Stratotanker serves as an airborne refueling platform supporting fighter jets, bombers, and cargo aircraft. The aircraft typically carries three crew members, and their status remains unknown while rescue operations continue.
#military-aircraft-incident #operation-epic-fury #kc-135-refueling-aircraft #iraq-operations #aircraft-loss
Read at Business Insider
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