Six Confirmed Killed in Refueling Aircraft Crash, US Says

A US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker refueling plane flies over Tel Aviv on March 4. — A US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker refueling plane flies over Tel Aviv on March 4.
Photographer: Jack Guez/AFP/Getty Images

Provide news feedback or report an error

Confidential tip?

Send a tip to our reporters

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

By John Harney and Gerry Doyle

March 12, 2026 at 10:14 PM UTC

Updated on

March 13, 2026 at 3:21 PM UTC

All six crewmembers aboard a KC-135 refueling aircraft that crashed over western Iraq are confirmed dead, US Central Command said.

The tanker crashed in an incident on Thursday involving another aircraft, which managed to land safely. The planes were operating as part of the US military campaign against Iran.