A US military refueling plane, the KC-135 Stratotanker, has crashed in western Iraq.
According to a BBC report, the US military has confirmed that one of its planes has crashed in Iraq. The military says the incident was neither due to enemy fire nor a result of friendly fire.
US Central Command said relief and rescue operations are underway in western Iraq. A statement from the military said another plane was also part of the mission, which landed safely. The US military says it is not yet clear what caused the KC-135 to crash, but the possibility of a mid-air collision is also being considered.
It is worth noting that KC-135 refueling planes provide fuel to fighter jets and bombers in the air during wartime, allowing them to reach their targets over long distances. This is a large logistical operation in which multiple jets are present in the air at the same time and require fuel.
During aerial refueling, the fighter jet must fly very close to the tanker plane. A special probe or drogue is then extended from the tanker, which the pilot connects to their plane, and fuel is transferred. At this time, the two planes are just a few feet apart, and this operation is often performed at night.
For the pilot, maintaining contact with the probe or drogue is a highly skilled task, especially in an environment where many other planes are present. Sometimes, to avoid enemy detection, all lights on the planes are turned off during the mission.
US Central Command said the incident occurred in Iraq, but it is not clear how far it was from the border with neighboring Iran.
Typically, a KC-135 plane has a crew of three, including a pilot, co-pilot, and boom operator.
According to the US Air Force, the Air Mobility Command fleet includes approximately 400 tanker planes.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards claim to have targeted US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln with missiles
Tehran, March 13 (UNI) Iran's Revolutionary Guards have claimed that they have targeted the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln with missiles, causing significant damage.
According to a statement from the Revolutionary Guards, the US aircraft carrier was targeted with advanced missiles and drones about 340 kilometers from Iran's maritime borders in the Gulf of Oman.
Meanwhile, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards say that the world will witness a different Quds Day today. They say that the liberation of Quds is near, and victory is within the reach of those seeking freedom and the oppressed.
The Revolutionary Guards said that the 44th wave of Operation Vadeh Sadegh 4 was launched this morning in memory of the martyrs of Quds.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guards also said that the US Fifth Fleet and US bases were targeted with missiles and drones in a continuous, comprehensive operation, targeting Israeli targets on the 23rd morning of the blessed month of Ramadan.