BREAKING — US Military Confirms All Six Crew Members Dead In Iraq Plane Crash

The United States military has confirmed that all six crew members aboard a KC-135 aerial refuelling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq on Thursday have died.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) updated the death toll on Friday, following an earlier report that initially recorded four fatalities. CENTCOM emphasized that the crash was not the result of hostile or friendly fire.

“All six crew members on board a US KC-135 military aerial refuelling plane that crashed in western Iraq have been confirmed dead,” CENTCOM stated. The identities of the crew will be withheld until families are formally notified.

According to reports, the crash occurred amid ongoing military operations in the region, and rescue efforts had been underway to locate the crew members. The incident marks the fourth US aircraft lost since the United States and Israel began airstrikes against Iran on February 28.

Earlier this month, Kuwait’s air defences mistakenly shot down three US Air Force fighter jets in a friendly fire incident, though all crew members ejected safely.

US President Donald Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth have cautioned that the ongoing conflict with Iran could result in additional American casualties before hostilities conclude. The KC-135 serves as a vital aerial refuelling tanker, extending the operational range of fighter jets and other military aircraft. The loss of both the aircraft and its six crew members represents a significant setback to US military capabilities in the region.