Six U.S. Air Force crew members were killed when a KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq while supporting Operation Epic Fury. U.S. Central Command confirmed all six service members died in the incident. The aircraft went down at approximately 2 p.m. ET. Two aircraft were involved, and one landed safely, marking the first Air Force fatalities linked to Operation Epic Fury. The crash U.S. Central Command said the incident occurred in friendly airspace during the operation, prompting immediate rescue efforts.