NEW DELHI: All six crew members aboard a US KC-135 refuelling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq have been confirmed dead, US Central Command (CentCOM) said on Friday.
The aircraft went down on March 12 while flying over friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury, according to the US military. Earlier reports had confirmed four deaths while rescue efforts were underway.
In a statement posted on X, CentCOM said: "All six crew members aboard a US KC-135 refueling aircraft that went down in western Iraq are now confirmed deceased. The aircraft was lost while flying over friendly airspace March 12 during Operation Epic Fury. The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire. The identities of the service members are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin have been notified."
The crash occurred amid the ongoing Middle East conflict involving US and Iranian forces. The US military has said the incident took place during operational activities connected to Operation Epic Fury.
Officials have ruled out both hostile fire and friendly fire as the cause of the crash, though the exact circumstances remain under investigation.
The KC-135 tanker, a refuelling aircraft that has been in service for more than six decades, is typically operated by a crew consisting of a pilot, co-pilot and boom operator responsible for aerial refuelling. Some missions also include a navigator and additional personnel.
The aircraft loss marks another setback for US forces in the region. Earlier in the conflict, Kuwaiti forces mistakenly shot down three American F-15E fighter jets in a friendly fire incident over Kuwait. All six crew members in that incident ejected safely.
The broader conflict, which began on February 28, has involved missile, drone and air strikes across the region as tensions between the United States and Iran continue to escalate.
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