KC‑135 crash in Iraq
Republic TV covered a KC‑135 refueling aircraft crash in Iraq that killed four of six US crew members; officials said the crash followed contact with another aircraft and was not due to hostile fire reported. The segment emphasized the human toll and the preliminary explanation for the accident.
A U.S. KC-135 Stratotanker was lost March 12 over western Iraq during Operation Epic Fury, CENTCOM centcom.mil. CENTCOM and the U.S. Air Force updated casualty counts over the following 24 hours, with official releases on March 13 confirming all six crew members deceased. af.mil Officials reported two refueling aircraft were involved and that the second aircraft landed safely after the incident, Defense News and CENTCOM accounts say. defensenews.com CENTCOM’s press release states the loss occurred in “friendly airspace” at approximately 2 p.m. Eastern Time on March 12, 2026, during the operation. centcom.mil The Air Force statement says the identities of the deceased will be withheld until 24 hours after next-of-kin notifications and confirms an investigation is underway. af.mil State reporting identified three of the airmen as being from Ohio, and regional coverage noted Oklahoma bases serve as hubs for KC-135 refueling operations used in similar missions. spokesman.com
