Rescue operations are under way after a US military refuelling aircraft crashed in western Iraq, US Central Command (Centcom) has said.
Neither hostile nor friendly fire were involved in the downing of the KC-135, which occurred over western Iraq, Centcom said.
The tanker had been involved in ongoing US operations against Iran, and was one of two aircraft involved in the incident, the military command unit said. The second landed safely, it added.
The Boeing-manufactured aircraft are capable of refuelling planes midair and typically play a major role in US military operations. They were used extensively in the first Gulf War to extend the range of fighter jets and bombers.
The KC-135 usually has a crew of a pilot, a co-pilot and a boom operator responsible for operating the refuelling arm of the aircraft.
