U.S. Central Command (central command) confirmed on Thursday that a tanker plane crashed in Iraq. However, officials confirmed that the crash was not caused by enemy or friendly fire. Rescue efforts are underway.
Central Command, which is responsible for the Middle East, said in a statement that two KC-135 Stratotanker tanker aircraft were involved in the incident. One landed safely and the other crashed in western Iraq.
follow: US-Iran war news live: US military plane crashes in Iraq; new explosion rocks Tehran
The command said it was “aware of the loss of a U.S. KC-135 tanker aircraft.” The incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury and rescue efforts are ongoing. The incident involved two aircraft. One of the planes crashed in western Iraq, and the second landed safely. This was not due to enemy fire or friendly fire.”
It was unclear whether the pilot and crew survived the crash.
More than 150 US troops injured in US-Iraq war
Since the United States and Israel began their strikes against Iran on February 28, seven US troops have been killed. Reuters reported on Tuesday that as many as 150 U.S. troops have been injured in the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.
In the early days of the Middle East conflict, the Kuwaiti army accidentally shot down three American F-15E fighter jets in a friendly fire incident. According to U.S. Central Command, the planes went missing during intense combat operations involving Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles and drone strikes. Despite the crash, all six crew members on the fighter jet were able to eject safely.
The war itself began on February 28, with incidents of friendly fire occurring in the early stages of the battle.
The recent loss of a KC-135 tanker brought the total number of U.S. military aircraft destroyed in the conflict to at least four.
The KC-135 Stratotanker has been an important part of the U.S. Air Force fleet for more than sixty years. The aircraft is mainly used for aerial refueling missions to extend the range and endurance of other military aircraft during combat.
According to the Air Force, a standard KC-135 flight typically includes a crew of three – a pilot, a co-pilot and an operator who controls the fuel boom, which is used to deliver fuel to other aircraft.
However, some missions require additional navigators and the aircraft can also carry passengers. An Air Force fact sheet states that the KC-135 can transport up to 37 people, depending on mission requirements.
(Using AFP input)
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