A KC-135 Stratotanker that made an emergency landing in Israel after a mission in Iraq — where another tanker crashed, killing six U.S. service members — appeared to be assigned to Beale Air Force Base near Marysville.
U.S. Central Command said the KC-135 Stratotanker went down Thursday in western Iraq while flying in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury. Officials said the crash was not due to hostile or friendly fire.
The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation, officials said. CENTCOM said six crew members were aboard the aircraft when it went down. Media reports showed the other KC-135, which had Beale markings, landed at Ben Gurion Airport near Lod.
“All six crew members aboard a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft that went down in western Iraq are now confirmed deceased. The aircraft was lost while flying over friendly airspace March 12 during Operation Epic Fury,” CENTCOM officials said.
Officials said the circumstances of the incident are being investigated, but that the aircraft was not brought down by hostile or friendly fire. The identities of the service members were being withheld until 24 hours after their next of kin are notified, CENTCOM said.
Officials at the Beale-based 940th Air Refueling Wing did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 13, 2026
תיעוד: אחד ממטוסי התדלוק האמריקניים, שהיה מעורב אתמול בתאונה בשמי עיראק, צולם בנתב”ג ללא חלק משמעותי ממיצב הכיוון בזנב המטוס. תיעוד המטוס הגיע אלינו הבוקר, ומלמד משהו על התאונה החריגה במהלך התקיפות באיראן
המטוס השני שהיה מעורב בתאונה התרסק בעיראק, גורל ששת אנשי הצוות לא ידוע pic.twitter.com/igBPfEOZjf
— איתי בלומנטל 🇮🇱 Itay Blumental (@ItayBlumental) March 13, 2026
In a statement Friday, the Beale Military Liaison Council, a nonprofit that supports the base and relationships between Beale and surrounding communities, appeared to confirm the safely landed plane was from Beale.
“We are grateful that the aircraft from Beale was able to land safely with its crew aboard,” the council said in a statement that also mourned the loss of the crew killed in western Iraq. “We are thankful for their safety and continue to keep them, their fellow reservists, and all those affected by this tragedy in our thoughts.”
CNN cited two images posted on Telegram by Israeli public broadcaster and CNN affiliate Kan showing a KC-135 with damage to its tail fin. Markings on the tail section identified the aircraft as belonging to the 940th Air Refueling Wing at Beale, home to the Air Force Reserve Command unit. Neither the crew members nor their unit has been identified by Air Force officials.
CNN reported that the Islamic Resistance of Iraq, a group believed to be loyal to Iran, claimed responsibility for downing the refueling jet. The group said it had also forced the KC-135, believed to be the aircraft tied to Beale, to make an emergency landing, but provided no evidence to support the claim.
The KC-135 has served as the Air Force’s primary aerial refueling aircraft for more than 60 years, according to Air Force information. The workhorse aircraft has been stationed at the Yuba County base since the 1970s; the 940th was reattached to Beale in 2016. The tanker is flown by active duty and reserve units supporting all branches of the U.S. military and allied aircraft.
The 940th Operations Group is part of the 940th Air Refueling Wing at Beale and operates eight KC-135 Stratotankers. The group also includes the 940th Operational Support Squadron and the 314th Air Refueling Squadron.
This story was originally published March 13, 2026 at 4:27 PM.
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Darrell Smith is a local reporter for The Sacramento Bee. He joined The Bee in 2006 and previously worked at newspapers in Palm Springs, Colorado Springs and Marysville. Smith was born and raised at Beale Air Force Base and lives in Elk Grove.