American warplane has crashed

Felix Wilow, 

Hans Österman, 

Nelly Kronstrand

Updated 09.29 | Published 00.25

            

           A KC-135 tanker aircraft during a visit to Arlanda in 2024. Photo: Björn Lindahl

A US tanker aircraft crashed on Thursday in Iraq.

Another military aircraft was damaged.

At least five people are said to have been on board and are still missing.

An American Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker made landfall near Turaibil on the Iraqi-Jordanian border on Thursday evening, writes CBS News. 

Another tanker aircraft of the same type was involved in the incident and was damaged. It landed in Israel after first reporting an emergency to air traffic control, according to the television channel.

Both aircraft were part of Epic Fury, which the US calls its war in Iran.

Rescue operations are underway, stated Centcom, which is the US military command center for the Middle East. According to the statement, the crash was caused by neither enemy nor friendly fire.

According to information to CNN, there were at least five people on board. Nothing has been announced so far about their fate.

An Iran-backed militant group in Iraq has claimed responsibility, according to Reuters. The motive is said to be "defending our country's sovereignty and airspace," they write on Telegram.

The information has not been confirmed by the US.

           

           An A-10 Thunderbolt II from the US Air Force refuels from a KC-135 Stratotanker over the Strait            of Hormuz in 2023. Photo: Staff Sgt. Frank Rohrig / AP