Defense US military refueling plane crashes in Iraq: What to know by Sarah Davis - 03/13/26 10:58 AM ET by Sarah Davis - 03/13/26 10:58 AM ET Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email NOW PLAYING An American refueling aircraft that crashed in Iraq on Thursday afternoon killed all six of the U.S. service members on board, the U.S. Central Command (Centcom) confirmed on Friday morning. An investigation into the incident is ongoing, but Centcom said the crash was “not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.” The tragic crash comes amid the Trump administration’s ongoing strikes with Israel against Iran. The joint military effort, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” has bombarded Tehran since its launch on Feb. 28. The Iranian regime has retaliated with counterstrikes on U.S. bases in the Middle East.  Here’s what to know about Thursday’s crash: A crash in “friendly territory” The incident occurred on Thursday around 2 p.m. EDT and involved two planes, Centcom said in a Friday morning update posted on the social platform X.  An American KC-135 Stratotanker carrying six passengers crashed in western Iraq. The second aircraft landed safely in Israel, the country’s ambassador to the U.S. confirmed on Thursday.  Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine said during a Friday press conference that the crash occurred in “friendly territory” and “was not the result of hostile or friendly fire.” “Please keep these brave airmen, their families, friends and units, in your thoughts in the coming hours and days, our service members make an incredible sacrifice to go forward and do the things that the nation asks of them,” Caine said.  The Trump administration deployed these refueling aircraft to the Middle East to support the joint U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran. KC-135s are manufactured by Boeing and are used by the U.S. military to refuel other planes in midair.  National mourning The deaths of these military members have been met with an outpouring of support and celebration of their dedication to service. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said he was “mourning the loss” of the service members who died on the Thursday KC-135 flight. “The Department of the Air Force is sending our deepest condolences to their loved ones and the communities that are affected by this tragedy,” Meink wrote on X. “These Airmen volunteered and raised their right hand to defend our country, and their sacrifice will not be forgotten.” Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) said he was “heartbroken” by the news in a Friday morning post on X. “I’m grateful for the diligent work for our search and rescue personnel and hoping for a quick recovery of the remaining two service members,” Kim said. “The impact of war goes far beyond the battlefield; we should all grieve for their families and loved ones today.” Senate Armed Services Committee member Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) responded to the loss of these four military members and commended their service.  “Losing a loved one is unimaginable,” the senator wrote in a Friday X post. “As a grateful nation, we must never forget these heroes.” American death toll climbs The deaths of these six U.S. service members brings the total number of Americans killed during this conflict to 13.  Seven U.S. soldiers were killed during Iranian counterstrikes on U.S. military bases in the Middle East.  Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, Capt. Cody Khork, Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, Sgt. Declan Coady, Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien and Chief Warrant Officer Three Robert Marzan were killed by a drone attack in Kuwait. Sgt. Benjamin Pennington died on March 8 from wounds sustained during an Iranian attack on March 1 in Saudi Arabia, according to the Pentagon .  Centcom has yet to release the names of those killed on Thursday while next of kin are notified.  Elected Democrats have expressed fears of further escalation in this conflict that could lead to even more U.S. military deaths.  Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, warned earlier this week that Trump could send in American troops on the ground in Iran. “We seem to be on a path toward deploying American troops on the ground in Iran to accomplish any of the potential objectives,” Blumenthal told reporters following a classified briefing on Tuesday.  The president and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have yet to rule out this possibility, with Hegseth saying they “reserve the right” to put boots on the ground in the country.  “We would be completely unwise if we did not reserve the right to take any particular option, whether it included boots on the ground or no boots on the ground,” the secretary told CBS News’s Major Garrett last week. Add as preferre