- The Air Force removed chutes from the tankers in 2008 to save time and money.
WASHINGTON/BAGHDAD, March 14 2026 (Agencies): Six crew members killed aboard a KC-135 that crashed in Iraq on Thursday—the latest casualties of the war on Iran—likely had no parachutes, which the Air Force removed from the tanker aircraft nearly two decades ago to save time and money.
Two KC-135s were involved in the incident, one of which returned safely to base. The crash occurred during Operation Epic Fury, now in its second week, but U.S. Central Command said the loss was not the result of hostile or friendly fire. The precise mission of the downed aircraft was not immediately disclosed.
An Air Force spokesperson confirmed to Defense One that KC-135s “do not have parachutes.” The decision to eliminate them was made in 2008 under the Air Force’s AFSO 21 efficiency program, citing low likelihood of use and high costs of maintenance and training.
Jessica Ruttenber, a former KC-135 pilot and instructor, recalled the rationale: “There was a point when we were concerned about additional weight and not being fuel-efficient. That brought it to the likelihood of us ever needing to use the parachutes versus the weight and the upkeep, [and] the cost.”
Ruttenber noted that even if parachutes were available, bailing out of a KC-135 would only be feasible in limited scenarios, such as low fuel or catastrophic loss of landing capability. In violent or uncontrolled emergencies, she said, “you’re not going to have time as an option.”
The KC-135 fleet, first built more than 60 years ago, has long been criticized for aging equipment. The last fatal mishap occurred in 2013 in Kyrgyzstan, when three crew members died after a flight control malfunction during a refueling mission.
Air Force leaders have repeatedly called for modernization. While the service weighed keeping KC-135s in service past 2050, it recently opted to buy additional KC-46s instead of pursuing a “bridge buy” for an interim tanker. “The Air Force is investing in both tanker capacity and capability to enable the Joint Force now and into the future,” a spokesperson said.
The identities of the six crew members killed in Thursday’s crash have not yet been released. At the Pentagon, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Caine urged the public to remember their sacrifice: “Please keep these brave airmen, their families, friends, and units in your thoughts.”