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Aircraft Safety · Defense Spending · Geopolitical Risk · Military Aviation
A U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq, killing all six crew members, including three from the Ohio Air National Guard.
The incident, which occurred during operations against Iran (Operation Epic Fury), was not due to hostile or friendly fire and is under investigation. Another KC-135 involved in the unspecified incident landed safely in Israel.
This crash brings the U.S. death toll in Operation Epic Fury to 13, with 140 service members injured. The KC-135 Stratotanker, a model over 60 years old and based on the Boeing 707, is being gradually phased out for the newer KC-46A Pegasus.
Concerns about the aging fleet's reliability are highlighted, especially given previous fatal accidents and the practice of not always carrying parachutes. The U.S. Air Force currently operates 376 KC-135s across active duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve units.
