6 dead after U.S. military refueling plane goes down in Iraq

By: Matthew Sanders

TAMPA, Fla. (KMIZ) -- All six crew members on board a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft are dead after the plane went down over Iraq Thursday.

At approximately 2 p.m. Thursday, the plan went down over western Iraq, while assisting with operations in the Middle East.

U.S. Central Command said in a statement that the downing was not from hostile or friendly fire.

"The incident occurred in friendly airspace during Operation Epic Fury, and rescue efforts are ongoing," Central Command wrote in a statement Thursday afternoon.

One of the KC-135 Stratotankers went down in western Iraq. Another made it safely to the ground.

CENTCOM said the circumstances of the incident are under investigation, and the identities of the service members are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin have been notified.

KQ2's Leah Rainwater contributed to this article.