Finance
US carrying out rescue effort after losing aircraft in iraq, US military says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 12, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 12, 2026
Quick Summary
The U.S. Central Command said on March 12, 2026, that it is conducting rescue operations after losing one of two aircraft in western Iraq. The incident occurred in friendly airspace, involved no hostile or friendly fire, and the other aircraft landed safely.
US carrying out rescue effort after military aircraft crash in Iraq
Details of the Military Aircraft Crash and Rescue Operations
Incident Overview
WASHINGTON, March 12 (Reuters) - A U.S. military refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, in an incident U.S. Central Command said involved another aircraft but was not the result of hostile or friendly fire.
US Military Operations in the Middle East
The United States has surged a large number of aircraft into the Middle East to take part in operations against Iran.
Rescue Efforts and Official Statements
In a statement, U.S. Central Command said it was carrying out rescue efforts after the U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft went down. The second aircraft landed safely.
"The incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury, and rescue efforts are ongoing," the statement said, using the name of the U.S. operation against Iran.
Casualties and Impact of Recent Operations
US and Israeli Strikes Against Iran
Since the U.S. and Israel started carrying out strikes against Iran on February 28, seven U.S. troops have been killed.
Wounded Troops
Reuters reported on Tuesday that as many as 150 U.S. troops have been wounded in the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Idrees Ali and Jasper Ward in Washington; Editing by Chris Reese)
Key Takeaways
- •The downed aircraft occurred in western Iraq within friendly airspace; neither hostile fire nor friendly fire were involved, according to CENTCOM.
- •This follows a similar pattern of complex aerial operations in the region, notably the March 1, 2026 friendly-fire incident in Kuwait where three U.S. F‑15s were mistakenly shot down, with all crews surviving and being rescued. CENTCOM credited Kuwaiti forces for their assistance. (en.wikipedia.org)
- •The ongoing U.S.–Iran conflict continues to elevate risks for allied operations across the Gulf. Similar incidents highlight the challenges of coordinating coalition air defenses amid surging drone, missile, and aircraft activity. (newindianexpress.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about US carrying out rescue effort after losing aircraft in Iraq, US military says
1What happened to the US military aircraft in Iraq?
The US Central Command reported that a military aircraft was lost in western Iraq. A second aircraft involved landed safely.
2Was the aircraft loss in Iraq due to hostile fire?
No, the US military stated that the incident was not the result of hostile fire or friendly fire.
3How many aircraft were involved in the incident in Iraq?
Two aircraft were involved. One was lost while the other landed safely.
4What actions is the US military taking after the aircraft loss?
The US military is carrying out rescue operations following the loss of its aircraft in Iraq.