KC-135 crash over Iraq kills six Air National Guard airmen

A KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on March 12, 2026, killing all six crew members during a combat support sortie for Operation Epic Fury. U.S. Central Command confirmed the loss was not caused by hostile or friendly fire; investigators believe a mid-air collision may have been involved. The six airmen were drawn from the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base and the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base. The crash raised the U.S. death toll from the Iran war to at least thirteen service members.