CENTCOM Confirms Four American Heroes Killed in Iraq Non-Combat Crash – RedState
Four American soldiers died in the crash of their KC-135 aerial refueling plane in western Iraq, the American Central Command announced Friday morning.
The plane crashed mid-afternoon Thursday with six crew members on board. As of the date of this report, four have been confirmed dead, while search and rescue operations continue for the others.
“At approximately 2 p.m. Eastern Time on March 12, a U.S. KC-135 refueling plane crashed in western Iraq,” read the official statement from U.S. Central Command published on X. “Four of the six crew members on board the aircraft were confirmed deceased as rescue efforts continued.”
CENTCOM notes that this tragic incident was not due to any combat operation.
“The circumstances of the incident are under investigation,” they report. “However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.”
The names of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of next of kin. Authorities said the identities would be released 24 hours after family members were notified.
CENTCOM initially reported that a second aircraft was involved and that “the incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury.”
The other plane, they said, “landed safely.”
Four people died in loss of US KC-135 over Iraq
TAMPA, Fla. – Around 2 p.m. ET on March 12, a U.S. KC-135 refueling plane crashed in western Iraq. Four of the six crew members on board the plane have been confirmed dead as rescue efforts continue.
THE…
– US Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 13, 2026
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There was no immediate statement from the White House or congressional leaders regarding the incident Friday morning.
President Trump warned Iran on Friday that although the US military has dealt a decisive blow to the regime, more is in store in the near future.
“We have unmatched firepower, unlimited ammo and plenty of time. Look what’s happening to these deranged bastards today,” he wrote on his Truth social media platform.
The KC-135 Stratotanker plays a critical role in supporting U.S. and coalition aircraft in the Middle East by providing aerial refueling. This tragedy constitutes a serious non-combat loss for US forces in the region.
This is a developing story. RedState will provide ongoing updates as they arrive, including the status of other American heroes.
Editor’s note: For decades, past presidents have done nothing but talk. Now, Donald Trump eliminates the Iranian threat once and for all.
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