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Rescue effort under way as US military refueling plane crashes in Iraq

Mar 12, 2026Center Left

US Central Command officials say ‘incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury’Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxA US military refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, in an incident US Central Command said involved another aircraft but was not the result of hostile or friendly…

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The U.S. Central Command said that the loss was "not due to hostile or enemy fire."

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US refueling aircraft crashes in Iraq after incident in ‘friendly airspace’ — rescue efforts under way

New York Post

Mar 12, 2026

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US refueling aircraft crashes in Iraq after incident in ‘friendly airspace’ — rescue efforts under way

A US refueling aircraft “went down” in Iraq on Thursday during a crash in “friendly airspace,” according to authorities, who said rescue efforts remain ongoing. Two aircrafts were involved in the crash, with a US KC-135 Stratotanker going down over western Iraq, the US Central Command said. “The incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation...

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CENTCOM says KC-135 refueling aircraft ‘went down’ in Iraq, rescue efforts underway

Washington Examiner

Mar 12, 2026

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CENTCOM says KC-135 refueling aircraft ‘went down’ in Iraq, rescue efforts underway

U.S. Central Command announced Wednesday evening that it lost a military refueling aircraft over Iraq amid the war in Iran. Two aircraft, both KC-135 Stratotankers, were involved in the incident, according to CENTCOM. One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, and the second landed safely, officials said, claiming the incident was not the…

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US military refueling plane crashes in Iraq, killing 6

Salon.com

Mar 13, 2026

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US military refueling plane crashes in Iraq, killing 6

This is the fourth known US aircraft to crash under non-hostile circumstances since beginning efforts in Iran

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US military refueling aircraft crashes in Iraq, Centcom says

The Hill

Mar 12, 2026

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US military refueling aircraft crashes in Iraq, Centcom says

The U.S. military announced Thursday that a refueling aircraft, a KC-135, crashed in western Iraq in an incident that was not caused by friendly or hostile fire. U.S. Central Command (Centcom) said two aircraft were involved in the incident, with one going down and the other “landed safely.” It is unclear if there were any…

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The Washington Post

Mar 12, 2026

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U.S. Air Force refueler crashes in Iraq while supporting Iran war

Rescue efforts are ongoing, officials said, after the KC-135 tanker and another aircraft were involved in an apparent accident.

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NBC News

Mar 13, 2026

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4 US Crew Members Killed After Refueling Plane Crashes in Iraq

At least four United States crew members are dead after a military refueling plane crashed in Iraq. U.S. Central Command says it was not the result of hostile or friendly fire and that a rescue operation was launched immediately. NBC’s Richard Engel reports and "Meet the Press" moderator Kristen Welker joins TODAY with analysis.

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U.S. military plane crashes in Iraq as status of crew is unknown, officials said

CBS News

Mar 12, 2026

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U.S. military plane crashes in Iraq as status of crew is unknown, officials said

An aerial refueling tanker crashed in Western Iraq, U.S. officials said.

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4 US service members killed in refueling aircraft crash in Iraq

Fox News

Mar 13, 2026

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4 US service members killed in refueling aircraft crash in Iraq

A U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq, killing four of six crew members aboard. Officials say the loss was not due to hostile or friendly fire.

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