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vanessa_ca

(915 posts) Thu Mar 12, 2026, 06:15 PM Thursday

KC-135 tanker involved in Epic Fury goes down in Iraq: CENTCOM [View all]

Source: Breaking Defense

WASHINGTON — A US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker air refueler crashed in Iraq due to an “incident” that “occurred in friendly airspace,” US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement late Thursday.

Casualties and circumstances surrounding the crash are not immediately clear. According to CENTCOM, the incident was “not due to hostile or friendly fire” and occurred during Operation Epic Fury, the US military’s name for the war against Iran.

Three US F-15s were recently shot down over Kuwait in a friendly fire incident, but all pilots involved ejected safely. The Stratotanker, however, does not have ejection seats. CENTCOM said “rescue efforts are ongoing.”

Two aircraft were apparently involved in events that precipitated the tanker’s crash, though it’s not clear if it occurred amid a refueling mission. The other aircraft “landed safely” according to CENTCOM, which did not describe the aircraft in question.

Read more: https://breakingdefense.com/2026/03/kc-135-tanker-involved-in-epic-fury-goes-down-in-iraq-centcom/

61 replies

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KC-135 tanker involved in Epic Fury goes down in Iraq: CENTCOM [View all] vanessa_ca Thursday OP

based on the 707. these ancient craft must be heck to maintain nt msongs Thursday #1

I know, my Dad was flying them in Viet Nam. Irish_Dem Thursday #3

They fly out of Seymour Johnston AFB DenaliDemocrat Friday #51

I think it is a Boeing 707 frame. Irish_Dem Friday #54

I was an AWACS crewmember Puppyjive Thursday #18

Actually it's based on a dash 80. The KC-135 was about a year ahead of the 707. Angleae Friday #44

But no consideration for crew viability? OAITW r.2.0 Friday #45

None RoseTrellis Friday #49

Thank you! KT2000 Friday #52

Oh no.... Irish_Dem Thursday #2

Not good. A second KC 135 "landed safely in Israel" vanessa_ca Thursday #6

Crew of six. Irish_Dem Thursday #14

There are lots of Iranian drones moving thru that Captain Zero Friday #56

When will they realize that it's more humiliating to claim combat losses are accidents vanessa_ca Friday #58

In flight refueling has inherent risks. OAITW r.2.0 Thursday #4

It's weird that both affected planes were refuelers Prairie Gates Thursday #9

That is odd... 2naSalit Thursday #12

I saw two of the Pegasus tankers very close tonekat Thursday #24

That's what I saw... 2naSalit Thursday #25

I didn't know that it involved 2 KC-135 tankers. That's really crazy. I have to believe each tanker has at least OAITW r.2.0 Thursday #13

CENTCOM's only saying two aircraft Prairie Gates Thursday #20

I would think mid-air refueling tankers are closely watched to avoid this very situation. OAITW r.2.0 Thursday #21

Pic downthread would seem to confirm that both the crashed aircraft and the safely landed one Prairie Gates Thursday #32

Why would that happen? OAITW r.2.0 Thursday #35

Unlikely... 2naSalit Thursday #11

I didn't know all the facts when I posted. OAITW r.2.0 Thursday #16

It's a reasonable one but... 2naSalit Thursday #22

True story....worked at a gas bottling plant in Portland, Maine for 8 months, We bottled from bulk,. OAITW r.2.0 Thursday #37

Not avgas RoseTrellis Friday #47

That was after my time... 2naSalit Friday #55

I remember when one blew up over Illinois in 1982 Hassin Bin Sober Thursday #33

Just got a Guardian breaking news banner BumRushDaShow Thursday #5

I'm going to call this one: add three to the KIA tally Prairie Gates Thursday #7

I hope not, but I fear you're right -eom vanessa_ca Thursday #10

Anything approved for news by this administration is suspect CentralMass Thursday #8

No ejection seats on this aircraft. mn9driver Thursday #15

Given the danger of this flight requirement....seems like ejection seats for the pilots and the OAITW r.2.0 Thursday #17

Might be a side door... 2naSalit Thursday #23

Pretty doubtful. Once they are locked into their seat, given their situation...not a lot of time to figure a quick exit OAITW r.2.0 Thursday #26

Hmm... 2naSalit Thursday #27

Let's say you lose a wing or tail at 35,000 ft, flying at 450mph.. OAITW r.2.0 Thursday #29

They don't even have parachutes anymore vanessa_ca Thursday #36

So, help me understand. Fighter pilots need ejection support,,,,but tanker pilots don't? OAITW r.2.0 Friday #38

That's my logical understanding, but I can't add anything vanessa_ca Friday #39

While I am a pilot.... OAITW r.2.0 Friday #41

Compared to 0 hours in no seat of any Cessna (me) lol vanessa_ca Friday #43

Not just tankers. RoseTrellis Friday #48

mission scope is different, and structure wise its very different DetroitLegalBeagle Friday #53

Don'tcha think Pilots in tanker have exposure? OAITW r.2.0 Saturday #59

Their mission scope generally doesnt have them exposed to enemy aircraft DetroitLegalBeagle Sunday #60

Seems like missile technology has evolved over the years. OAITW r.2.0 Tuesday #61

The Epstein Administration will be claiming the media is trying to make it look bad. Marcuse Thursday #19

Fatigue Maninacan Thursday #28

Pic of KC-135 after landing in Tel Aviv with nearly half of its vertical stabilizer torn away vanessa_ca Thursday #30

Mid-air collision between two KC-135s is the claim from CENTCOM, then Prairie Gates Thursday #31

I know vanessa_ca Thursday #34

Tankers do not collide on mission. They are totally controlled by AWACs on theater, OAITW r.2.0 Friday #42

The Stratotanker, however, does not have ejection seats. CENTCOM said "rescue efforts are ongoing." riversedge Friday #40

The pilots, the crew, and the planes would all be fine if not for Trump's unneeded war Botany Friday #46

Operation Epic Fuckup. milestogo Friday #50

The plane was based at Joint Base Andrews. mahatmakanejeeves Friday #57