Saturday, May 04, 2013

Air Force Refueling Tanker Crashes in Kyrgyzstan

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 3, 2013 – A U.S. Air Force KC-135 tanker aircraft crashed today in northern Kyrgyzstan, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing officials reported.

Emergency response crews are on the scene, and the crew’s status is unknown, officials said.
The crew and aircraft are assigned to the Transit Center at Manas near Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

The KC-135 Stratotanker has provided the Air Force’s core aerial refueling capability for more than 50 years. It provides aerial refueling support to Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied nation aircraft, and also is capable of aeromedical evacuation, transporting litter and ambulatory patients using patient support pallets.

The cause of the crash is under investigation, officials said.

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