Images circulating online appear to show U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker (tail number 63-8017) with significant damage to the top of its vertical stabilizer following the mid-air incident involving two tanker aircraft over western Iraq.
Flight tracking data indicates the aircraft transmitted a “squawk 7700” emergency code before safely returning to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel. The emergency signal is used internationally to indicate a serious in-flight problem requiring immediate assistance.
The tail markings identify the aircraft as belonging to the 940th Aerial Refueling Wing based at Beale Air Force Base, California.
The damaged tanker is believed to be the second aircraft involved in the incident that led to the loss of another KC-135 over western Iraq during Operation Epic Fury.
U.S. Central Command previously confirmed that two aircraft were involved, with one tanker crashing in western Iraq while the second aircraft landed safely. The incident was reported not to have been caused by hostile fire or friendly fire, and investigations are ongoing.
