NEWSFLASH: Four dead after crash of U.S. refueling aircraft
Death toll of U.S. servicemen in Iran war rises to 11 after the crash in western Iraq. Not caused by hostile or friendly fire.
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Four of six crew members on a U.S. military refueling aircraft are dead after it crashed in western Iraq, according to U.S. Central Command, the Pentagon headquarters in charge of the Middle East.
CENTCOM initially issued a statement that it was aware that an aircraft went down in western Iraq and that it was not caused by hostile or friendly fire. They also said the incident involved a second aircraft, which landed safely, and that a search and rescue mission was ongoing.
This kind of aircraft, the KC-135, is typically used to refuel other planes midair, extending their range. It’s a critical and less-noticed component of what allows the U.S. military to project air power around the world.
Before this incident, seven U.S. soldiers had been confirmed killed during the war in Iran. This latest incident raised the U.S. military death toll up to 11.
140 servicemen had been injured and 8 more had been seriously injured since the start of the Iran war, the Pentagon said in a statement earlier this week.
Previously, three U.S. fighter jets were downed in friendly fire accidents over Kuwait, but there were no casualties.
The Iranian government claims that inside Iran has passed 1,300. IWD is unable to independently verify these figures.