For the first time: Iran managed to hit an American plane

An American F35 fighter jet made an emergency landing at a US Air Force base in the Middle East, after being hit by anti-aircraft fire during a mission in Iran, CNN reported today (Thursday) according to two sources familiar with the details. This is the first time that Iran has hit a US military plane.

The spokesman for the US Central Command (CENTCOM), Captain Tim Hawkins, reassured and indicated that the aircraft landed safely and the incident is now under investigation.

Just last week, a fatal air accident occurred between two American planes over the territory of western Iraq – during the attack operation in Iran. As a result of the accident, six soldiers in the US Army were killed. These are two large KC135 refueling planes, which, according to reports from the US, collided with each other during flight.

The American Central Command, CENTCOM, announced that one of the planes crashed and the other “landed safely”. The refueling plane involved in the accident landed in Israel, and was recorded with damage to the tail. The KC135 plane is designed to refuel various types of fighter jets in the air, and is used by the US military in attacks in Iran. The flight crew of this refueling aircraft typically includes three to four people, according to the US Air Force: a pilot, a co-pilot and an aerial refueling system operator. Some of the missions the KC135 goes on also require crew navigators.