US tanker plane crashes in western Iraq as Iran says it was shot down

Two aircraft were involved in the incident, said CENTCOM on X. The second plane was reported to have been damaged, according to CBS, but the military said it had landed safely.

No shelling was involved, CENTCOM said. CENTCOM did not provide information on whether anyone was killed or injured in the crash, but a rescue operation is underway. However, Iran's military claims that an allied group in Iraq shot down the plane with a missile, and that all personnel were killed, according to a statement on state television.

According to the U.S. Air Force, tanker aircraft of the type in question, the KC-135, normally have three crew members.

In early March, Kuwait accidentally shot down three American fighter jets during an active battle that also included Iranian attacks. The six crew members were able to eject.