A U.S. Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker departed Ben Gurion Airport on the morning of August 2, 2026, heading back to the United States following more than four months of structural repairs in Israel. The aircraft had undergone extensive maintenance after surviving a midair collision over Iraqi airspace in March.
The incident took place on March 13, 2026, as American aerial refueling tankers supported fighter jets conducting airstrikes against targets in Iran. During operations over western Iraq, two KC-135 Stratotankers collided while flying in friendly airspace. One of the refueling planes crashed following the collision, resulting in the deaths of all six crew members on board.
The second aircraft, carrying tail registration number 63-8017, suffered critical damage to its tail assembly. Despite losing approximately 40 percent of its vertical stabilizer, the flight crew maintained control and executed an emergency landing at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv.
Israeli military correspondent Itay Blumental of Kan News reported the tanker's departure on Sunday, noting that Kan News had previously obtained exclusive photographs showing the aircraft shortly after its emergency landing with a major portion of its tail missing.
Live flight tracking records verified that the repaired tanker, operating under callsign RCH564, departed Tel Aviv on Sunday morning and climbed out over the Mediterranean Sea on its transcontinental transit back to the United States.
In formal briefings following the original incident, U.S. Central Command confirmed that the midair collision was not caused by enemy or friendly fire. According to statement excerpts provided by aviation security analysts, defense technicians worked alongside military logistics specialists over the past four months to rebuild the vertical stabilizer and certify the airframe for transatlantic flight.
