CENTCOM has confirmed the loss of a KC-135 refueling aircraft, Stratotanker, that went down in western Iraq.
[SOURCE]
Heavenly Father, fill our hearts with thankfulness and appreciation for their sacrifice. Give us the wisdom through Your grace, to find direct words of prayer for comfort and strength. Help us to honor their service and retain our focus of abiding gratitude for their unwavering resolve as they fulfill their mission. ~Amen
O Keeper of the dawn and dusk, hold them beneath Your steadfast wing.
Let the dust of distant roads not dim the light within their eyes.
When the night leans heavy on their shoulders, be the quiet fire in their hearts.
When the wind carries the scent of danger, be the shield they cannot see.
Guide their steps through shadowed valleys, let courage rise like rivers in their veins.
Bring them home to open arms and gentle laughter, and for those who cannot return, wrap them in the eternal peace that no battle can disturb.
~ Amen!
God Bless those who gave All.
Dearest Lord, receive them into Paradise 🙏🏻
“Down, down, down into the darkness of the grave. Gently they go, the beautiful, the tender, the kind; Quietly they go, the intelligent, the witty, the brave. I know. But I do not approve. And I am not resigned.”
Edna St Vincent Millay
Beautiful, sis, absolutely beautiful…!
Heartbreaking, dear Aggie…though not nearly as much as their families will, very much feeling the losses 💔🙏🏻
🙏💕
Amen!
Even in the best of times, this is dangerous service.
It is, dear Gipper……..
2 aircraft involved?
“CENTCOM, which is responsible for U.S. military operations in the Middle East, said the crash of the KC-135 Stratotanker occurred in friendly airspace, and involved two aircraft.
According to CENTCOM, the loss of the aerial refueling aircraft was not the result of hostile fire or accidental friendly fire.
While the aerial refueling aircraft crashed, the second aircraft managed to land safely.”
https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/us-aerial-refueling-aircraft-crashes-in-western-iraq-5998074?ea_src=author_manual&ea_med=related_stories
There may be a discrepancy since the normal crew number is six….perhaps a couple were able to successfully bale….?
Still researching.
on edit:
In a post on X, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the plane, which had a crew of six, went down at approximately 2 p.m. ET on March 12.
One of the many articles I read, referenced they were over inhospitable terrain. And I also read somewhere, the normal crew number is 4…not sure why the discrepancy…we will have to wait and see….
Praying for the souls lost…and their families….
Pilot, CoPilot, flight engineer and the boom operator in the tail would be minimum crew number at my best guess.
Likely extras would be trainees and or navigators?
Centcom stated this crew had six on board and they’re still searching for two crew members….hoping they baled……
News is now reporting 6….
normal crew is 6, my son services them.
Be sure to tell him I thank him for his service. USAF Vet.
Minimal crew/standard crew is 4:
Pilot
Copilot
Flight Engineer/Navigator
Boom Operator
Additionally, sometimes a crew chief &/or a load master will be aboard.
Crew chief is in charge of maintenance for that particular aircraft. Every aircraft has a crew chief usually an E5 or E6.
Loadmasters figure cargo configuration.
😉🇺🇲
Two are still missing according to Breitbart.
https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2026/03/13/four-confirmed-dead-in-crash-of-u-s-air-refuelling-tanker-over-iraq-during-iran-strikes-operation/
A bit unusual for two tankers to brush up together. I’m not familiar with tanker operations, but would one need to refuel the other? I figure it would be easier to swap them out in the pattern than get that close together.
Aerial refueling is a dangerous job. Often done in turbulent weather in the dark.
I would be there was a mid air collision.
Back when I was a USAF ATC (1970’s) that would have been my first thought. You would have thought “traffic” would have been issued by the controlling entity.
G’morning Matt. To amplify, all aviating is dangerous: From “chocks out” to “chocks in”, from training missions to war fighting. We are at the whims of nature and machines. 20+ flying years here. Made it out alive but there were several “pucker factor” events.
May all lost crews find eternal peace.
…steps off soapbox wondering why its so dusty…
Thank you Chief Worm — that sums it up. 40+ years of flying here … it’s always some crazy darn thing lurking around the corner that you do not expect …
And again, Sundance, thank you for the beautiful prayer…
May God bless those who died and the families who will miss them.
Godspeed, Soldiers.
God bless them, their families. I HATE war.
And someone put a DAMN BIG SOCK in Lindsay Graham’s MOUTH. He’s SO gleeful, happy the USA is at war….guess the sissy boot is raking in $millions from kickbacks…..
DEFEAT him South Carolina
True preparation for war and proof of willingness is the only real way to avoid it on a large scale.
Peace through strength
“I am killing them” … “what a great honor it is to”
indeed gross.
I did not like that line either – unnecessary, IMHO…
Trump is such a bad person!
DeSantis lost.
Put a sock in the mouth of RINO scum that seek to dehumanize Trump. The Donald is not a puppet of Israel or Lindsey.
If you believe this fantasy, work to get Dems elected — since Trump is not really a sentient being with free will.
ROFL. Muh Lindsey!
Graham has run his course and his mouth.
Hear this, oh Lord!
Such a tragedy. May the families be given strength, peace, and comfort. In Jesus name Amen.
Airborne tanker aircraft “consolidate” their load (fuel to give) when one tanker relieves another on station … at least that’s the way it worked in the USN w/ “tactical jets” overhead the ship or providing fuel to the “strike package” … BTDT.
In this case, CENTCOM states that “two aircraft were involved in the incident, that one KC-135 went down in western Iraq, that the “second aircraft” landed safely … to me, this suggests the two KC aircraft (KC being military shorthand for “tankers”) had an “incident” (highly possible that it was a mid-air) while “consolidating” their fuel-to-give …
“The aircraft that went down was carrying six U.S. service members, whose status has not been publicly confirmed, creating additional uncertainty for military planners because search-and-rescue operations must now be conducted in a combat-support environment while the broader air campaign continues without interruption.
The fact that two KC-135 aircraft were involved in the same incident, with one crashing in western Iraq while the second declared an in-flight emergency before landing safely in Israel, immediately raises questions about aerial refueling procedures, tanker coordination protocols, and the operational risks associated with sustaining continuous strike support during Operation Epic Fury.
Reports describing the incident as occurring during an aerial refueling operation suggest that the loss may have resulted from a refueling accident, procedural error, or mid-air coordination failure between two tanker aircraft, which would represent a rare but strategically significant event during high-intensity air operations…” (source: Defense Security Asia, Mar 13, 2026)
Bottom line: time will tell what happened here, but in war and associated operations, you will lose airplanes, you will lose good people — it happens. War is Hell in whatever form or shape it comes in … especially if YOU are on the “receiving end” of it.
In any case … it was a bad day.
RIP my Brothers.
Agree it was most likely a transfer between the two during rotation.
Per photos of the one that was able to return and land, they hit.
For those unfamiliar with the plain’s silhouette.
Image of a typical tanker-to-tanker dump on approach:
May the Holy Spirit be with their family and friends.
Thanks for the update — looks like good info …
Last night on AFTV, a commentor thought after the ‘code 7700’ was broadcast…the plane circled over the ocean twice before coming in over land to the airport…suggesting they were dumping fuel.
Lookner had some radar flight program on screen where plane movements were visible. I think he uses ‘flight aware’.
This is so heartbreaking…
Clearer picture of the tail…
I’m no pilot but looks like damn good flying to land safely with all that damage. Must be a tough plane to still be able to function that way also.
Reserves out of Beale. Wonder where the other arcft is from…
Fuel consolidation makes sense; the relieved tanker gives their remaining fuel to the relief tanker? Efficient resource management, fuel needed on station, fuel not accessible during tanker transit.
The surviving aircraft had the top third missing from the tail; in a refueling, would that likely have been the receiving aircraft, assuming that it was in the trail position and it made contact with the plane ahead/above it?
We may not learn specifics quickly, but we’ll probably get accurate generalities. I was trying to figure out why two tankers would bump together; my initial thought was “Why would they be anywhere near each other?”, simply that the departing tanker leaves and the relief tanker assumes the same pattern.
Thinking logistically, though, it makes sense; the jet fuel is needed at location. If it takes one hour (?) to offload the remaining fuel to the relief tanker, that makes more sense than the time and cost of flying that same fuel back to base with the tanker to refresh, re-crew, re-fuel, just to be brought back out again on location where it was needed originally.
The “tankers” do not have the maneuverability as does the “Fighters”. This makes the fuel transfer between two “tankers” more dangerous than tanker/fighter.
From some reading it seems only a few (I’ve seen the number 14) KC-135 (KC-135RT) are configured to receive fuel, these were assigned originally to support SOF. Some say the refuelers at Beale don’t have that configuration.
May our warriors rest in peace.
This is a beautiful prayer Sundance.
Strength and pride to the family and loved ones. 💔🙏🏻
GOD BLESS those who gave life,
President Trump hates war, President wants peace with strain but evil Iran rather bloody war,
freedom for Iraner people,
May God receive their souls and comfort their families, Amen. God, please bless and protect our military as they embark on the mission. I pray for the families of the fallen, heroes who gave their full last measure for those they love and protect.
They were probably flying in formation either in their designated AOR or on the way to or from……
It was obviously a mid air, which can happen if flying in weather and not able to keep separation…..
I flew many hours tanking from KC-130s….
Had a few times when we had emergencies such as cut hoses and a pod fire…..
Tanking is a very dangerous game indeed……
USMC – Thanks for your service.
Thank you….
My only wish is that I could be young to do it all over again….
The absolute best times and worst times of my life…..
And loved every second…..
My husband, retired artilleryman, agrees with you. If called, he would be back in a second.
Thank you for your service and efforts.
Is dealing with the wake as bad as it looks? Seems that getting up under an aircraft that large would be awful.
Thank you, Soldiers. Our gratitude is expressed, with condolences to the families.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HDRtkKXbQAAU3sb?format=jpg&name=small
Clickable link above has the alleged image of the tail of the KC135 which landed safely in Israel
Someone didn’t keep separation from what it looks like…..
If they were in the process period of a transfer, they would have a relatively small separation space. All it would take is a microburst (downdraft) or sharp updraft to move a large surface area plane a considerable distance. Nature gets a vote too…
I agree, most probably the reason….
We in the KC-130 community don’t have that ability….
We fly the track until relieved or bingo fuel…..
Hard to see how that scenario results in damage to top of tail, but I suppose lots of things are possible.
Think you may be underestimating mother nature Scott…
Left out of the list above is the effects mountains can have (updrafts). It could have been any number of things – including the above.
Amen
40 years ago I had the great experience of riding along a KD-135 refueling training mission. It was a highlight of my life. The boom operator had great skills, I could see the pilots faces during the refueling.
As a former USAF wife, I stand with the families, bless and hold them Jesus, amen
2 weeks of consistent, long hour, flight missions… etc.
( it happens in civilian and military )
[ for instance, about every day, some people think they can drive a vehicle on roads for a long time and overcome fatigue…but fatigue quietly sneeks up…and.. not good …
..and
a boo boo of whatever sort, in the air, can be very hazardous to ones health too.]
Assumption, humans:
incremental fatigue over time can ripple into an affect upon efficiency ( and some can deny the situational awareness or not ).
Also untold – and likely never to be told –
is the other ( bombing?) flight mission
( that planned on refueling in air with help of KC )
that was likely temporarily scrapped,
and needs a planning reset.
Timing is of the essence in the mission – while also within human tolerance. ( an adrenaline rush, caffeine etc. can work for awhile to overcome fatigue situations .. but not forever ).
Rotating in fresh minds / bodies is also a part of the planning…
Maintaining of the equipment – and fresh people to do the maintenance, and supplying good replacement parts is also needed,
and planned for… but…humans are not perfect and neither is the equipment.
Plus, the weather conditions vary each day…
It is a tough chore to defeat evils. Always has been tough…but worth it…
Eve could not do it ages ago, and was tempted by evil, to take a bite…
Love thy neighbors…
As some try to politicize casualties in war battles…
and others
honor their service to protect our freedoms ( from tyrannists )…
…some of those same people tend to simultaneously ignore the 30,000 plus casualties involved with vehicle accidents along usa roadways – during relatively peaceful driving.
Pass the SAVE act…
so that we can have a much better chance of representation from each state.
It all connects…
Love thy neighbors…
Amen.
Every soldier plans to come home, but goes into duty full knowing that (s)he might not.
This is War. There will be losses.
One of the tankers was a tanker (KC-135RT) that could refuel mid-air. So tanker was refueling and there was a collision. The other tanker made an emergency landing in Israel.
https://www.twz.com/air/kc-135-tanker-crashes-in-iraq-during-operation-epic-fury-sortie
Amen
“wrap them in the eternal peace that no battle can disturb.”
HEAVENLY FATHER,
We bring these & their families to ALMIGHTY YOU!
Words cannot express our sorrow!
Comfort for the families of those lost to us but with YOU in Glory!
Healing for those injured.
In JESUS PRECIOUS, MIGHTY, & HOLY NAME!
AMEN, AMEN, & AMEN
High Flight (An Airman’s Ecstasy)
Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of; wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sun-lit silence. Hovering there
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air;
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace,
Where never lark nor even eagle flew;
And while, with silent lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
By John Gillespie Magee Jr. (1922-1941)
May their memories be a blessing.
Always loved that poem ever since I first heard it 70+ years ago … and as the years have gone by, it’s what I’ve requested be read when it’s “my time” …
Sundance: Great quotation by General Patton speaking of German General Rommel and his boo, “The Tank In Battle.”
Rommel didn’t write a book with that title. He did publish the WWI-focused book Infanterie Greift An (Infantry Attacks).
So apparently..so call-Islamic resistance in Iraq- claiming shot down USKC-13 5 is a lie…. reported on on web- pronews.gr
This breaks my heart, and from what I understand the other two individuals have not yet been located; I hope it doesn’t get worse.
I am not averse to the purpose of this military action but with each loss I feel deeply the anguish visited upon another family.
Reports were just updated that all were killed in the crash. RIP.
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/13/us-kc135-crash-iraq-iran-threats-shipping-attacks.html
This sad news highlights how remarkable last year’s excursion into Iran was, I seem to recall 153 planes were used successfully, including a number of mid-air refueling.
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/13/us-kc135-crash-iraq-iran-threats-shipping-attacks.html
Appears all six are now confirmed as KIA. May God give comfort to their families….
Picture on CNN shows the top edge of the tail on the one plane…kind of chewed up….
https://www.cnn.com/
“About an average of 115 armed forces people died from noncombat accidents and injuries a month 2006 – 2018.”
The Armed Forces preforms duties and training that is dangerous every day. It is very sad to lose any of them. When you join whether and enlisted or officer you are putting your life at a higher risk. God Bless them all for their sacrifices.
https://www.news8000.com/news/politics/national-politics/more-us-troops-die-during-training-than-in-combat-operations/article_0edb2035-400a-5230-b7ec-7a63d4f486f2.html
I remember early in the Iraq war a troop transport copter went down and we lost many crew members that day. My feelings of optimism sunk to dread in seconds. I hated that war from then on. I sure hope we don’t re-experience those days here.
DEI again? In any event, everyone knows the risks when they sign up. I did and so do they. When it comes to war, you can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs. Carry on.
All six died.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/03/all-six-crewmembers-aboard-us-kc-135-refueling/
Amen!
“Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air….
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace.
Where never lark, or even eagle flew —
And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
– Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.”
I love the Professor’s prayers; short, clear, concise, & thoughtful. Prays a lot like Jesus did.
Here’s Blancolirio’s assessment of the KC-135R Mid air collision. He’s credentialed to make his assessments and he dispels a lot of guesswork here. This is all there will be on it because the military investigation will take about 2 years.
Every life is precious but at the same time the media will play this story up as if 6,000 were killed instead of 6.
God bring peace to their families.
Likely a MANPAD weapon fired from below, according to Lt.Major Steve Murray and “The Path Forward” gang.
But will we ever really know what happened in this tragic incident?
The Path Forward – The Roundtable (rumble.com)
IF true, ouch…
Blessings to these people and their families…
Thank you, Sundance, for your beautiful prayer and comforting words. Blessings to Sundance. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
shouldn’t be there anyway. send in the politicians instead.
Thank you again for the beautiful prayer, Sundance, Amen!