Incident Overview
A midair collision occurred over Iraq involving two United States Air Force Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft. One tanker, registration 63-8017, was struck by the other, 62-3556. The impact sheared off the top of the tail section of 63-8017. Despite this damage, the crew of 63-8017 managed to return to Tel Aviv-Ben Gurion Airport and execute an emergency landing.
Fate of the Second Aircraft
The other tanker, 62-3556, became uncontrollable after the collision and crashed in western Iraq. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact. All six crew members aboard 62-3556 were killed in the crash.
Official Confirmation
The United States government subsequently confirmed that the collision was not the result of hostile action. No further details regarding the cause of the accident were provided.