A US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker, a refueling aircraft, went down in western Iraq on Thursday, the US army stated, including the incident was “not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.”
The assertion didn’t specify whether or not any US service members had been harm or killed.
“The incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury, and rescue efforts are ongoing,” a launch from US Central Command stated, utilizing the title the Pentagon has given to US operations in opposition to Iran. “Two aircraft were involved in the incident. One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, and the second landed safely. This was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.”
At least five crew members had been aboard the tanker that went down, a US official instructed NCS. The second aircraft that landed safely was additionally a KC-135, the official stated.
The launch stated extra data would grow to be obtainable as “the situation develops” and requested for persistence as extra particulars had been gathered “to provide clarity for the families of service members.”
A KC-135 flight crew usually contains three to 4 service members, in accordance with the Air Force: a pilot, a copilot and a increase operator, the one who refuels different aircraft mid-air. Some missions require navigators within the crew as effectively, an Air Force reality sheet stated.
The jets may also be configured to hold cargo and medical sufferers.
The Air Force didn’t say what particular mission the jets concerned in Thursday’s incident had been performing.
The KC-135s are a few of the oldest platforms within the US Air Force’s stock, with the final unit delivered in 1965, in accordance with an Air Force reality sheet.
The four-engine jets are based mostly on the Boeing 707 passenger jet, with 376 items on lively responsibility as of final 12 months, in accordance with a US congressional report. They have undergone vital upgrades over the years, together with new engines.
The lack of the tanker is the fourth identified aircraft loss within the battle with Iran.
Last week, three F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets had been shot down over Kuwait in a mistaken pleasant fireplace incident; all six crew members ejected safely.
This is a growing information story and will likely be up to date.