US KC-135 Refueling Aircraft Crashes in Western Iraq

Pentagon confirms incident was not caused by hostile or friendly fire as investigation begins. A US KC-135 military refueling aircraft has crashed in western Iraq, while another aircraft involved in the same operation landed safely, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM) , which oversees American military operations in the Middle East. In a statement, CENTCOM said the crash was not the result of hostile fire or friendly fire , though the exact cause of the incident remains unclear. Authorities have not yet released information regarding casualties. The KC-135 Stratotanker , a key aerial refueling aircraft used by the US Air Force for more than six decades, usually operates with a three-person crew consisting of a pilot, a copilot and a boom operator responsible for mid-air refueling operations. Some missions may also include a navigator, and the aircraft is capable of carrying up to 37 passengers . The incident comes amid rising regional tensions linked to the conflict involving Iran. Earlier in the war, three US F-15E fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti forces , although all six crew members managed to eject safely. US authorities say an investigation is underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash. Source: Newstimehub United States Military Iraq KC135 Aircraft Middle East Conflict Aviation Incident