All six crew members of the U.S. tanker plane that crashed in Iraq are dead.

In the skies over Iraq, a serious incident has occurred that deeply affected the rear lines of the U.S. and Israeli-led military campaign against Iran, called Operation Epic Fury.

A KC-135 Stratotanker from the U.S. Air Force, engaged in a air refueling mission, crashed, resulting in the deaths of six crew members.

The tragedy took place in a “friendly airspace”, with no indication of a shootdown by enemy fire or a case of friendly fire.

According to initial information released by the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), two aircraft were involved in the incident: the second managed to return and land safely.

Although the investigation is still in its early stages, one of the most plausible hypotheses based on available evidence is that of a possible mid-air collision during the delicate refueling maneuvers.

The overall toll of American losses since the operation began now rises to at least 13 military personnel, of which 7 were killed in combat.

The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker has represented the backbone of the U.S. air refueling capability for decades, dating back to the Cold War.

Nicknamed the “flying tank”, it allows fighters, bombers, and surveillance platforms to significantly extend their range and remain operational for hours.

In a theater as vast as that of Epic Fury, marked by intense sorties against Iranian bases and command centers, the role of tankers is as quiet as it is essential.

To reconstruct the exact dynamics, CENTCOM technicians will analyze various variables: the structural integrity and hydraulic systems of the aircraft, the efficiency of the refueling apparatus, the mission parameters (from weather conditions to altitude deviations), the proper deconfliction of communications, and, last but not least, the stress state and operational fatigue of the crews, subjected to the intense pressure of the ongoing campaign.