KC-135 tanker crashes in Western Iraq, crew status unknown

A Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker involved in the U.S. military operation in Iran crashed in Western Iraq on Thursday evening, according to multiple U.S. officials speaking with CBS News. Recovery efforts are underway near the crash site where a second Stratotanker sustained damage but managed to land safely.

Flight tracking service FlightRadar24 reported that one of the tankers declared an emergency before landing in Tel Aviv late Wednesday. The incident marked the fourth public acknowledgment of aircraft crashes as part of Operation Epic Fury, which aims to support U.S. and allied forces in the region.

U.S. Central Command released a statement on Thursday afternoon confirming both aircraft were involved in a mishap unrelated to hostile or friendly fire. This comes after earlier this week when three F-15E Strike Eagles were tragically lost due to a friendly-fire incident in Kuwait, with all six crew members successfully ejecting from the aircraft.

The ongoing investigation into the cause of the crash continues, and updates will be provided as they become available.