Overview
- Two U.S. KC-135 Stratotankers were involved in the incident, with one aircraft going down in western Iraq and the other landing safely.
- Six crew members were on board the downed tanker; four have been confirmed dead as recovery efforts continue for the remaining personnel.
- The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed it shot down the aircraft, a contention U.S. officials dispute as unverified.
- Investigators are weighing a possible midair collision as a cause, according to media reports citing officials familiar with the probe.
- The crash marks the fourth publicly acknowledged U.S. aircraft loss in Operation Epic Fury following the earlier friendly-fire downing of three F-15Es over Kuwait.