US/Israel-Iran War: Another American aircraft goes down

PREMIUM TIMES reports that this latest incident occurs about a week after three US fighter jets were downed in Kuwait.

An American refuelling aircraft has gone down over Iraq, bringing to four, the number of aircraft the US has lost in the ongoing war with Iran.

At least five people were believed to be in the plane before the crash with their fate yet to be ascertained.

The US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, the US military said. The aircraft is said to be a refueling aircraft used to refuel fighter jets mid-air.

The US military said the crash was “not due to hostile fire or friendly fire” but involved a second US tanker, CNN reported.

At least five crew members were aboard the tanker that went down, a US official told CNN.

“A statement from US Central Command said rescue efforts were ongoing but did not specify whether any US service members had been hurt or killed,” CNN reported.

“The incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury, and rescue efforts are ongoing,” the CENTCOM release said. “Two aircraft were involved in the incident. One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, and the second landed safely. This was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.”

While the US said the crash was not due to enemy operations, an Iran-alligned Iraqi armed group has claimed responsibility for shooting down the aircraft.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that this latest incident occurs about a week after three US fighter jets were downed in Kuwait.

The US blamed the 2nd of March crash of the fighter jets on friendly fire from Kuwaiti air defence.

Details later…