Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker crashes

20 crashes involving the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker since 1981, with 123 fatalities. Browse each accident by date, aircraft and location on the interactive map.

• Crashes: 20
• Fatal crashes: 15
• Fatalities: 123
• First recorded: March 15, 1981
• Most recent: March 12, 2026

Deadliest

1. March 19, 1982: Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, Greenwood, Illinois, USA, United States (27 fatalities)
2. May 6, 1981: Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, Walkersville, Maryland, USA, United States (21 fatalities)
3. January 31, 1989: Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, Dyess AFB, Texas, USA, United States (19 fatalities)
4. March 13, 1987: Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, Fairchild AFB (Spokane), Washington, USA, United States (7 fatalities)
5. August 27, 1985: Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, Beale AFB, California, USA, United States (7 fatalities)

Countries

• United States (14)
• Kyrgyzstan (2)
• Canada (1)
• Germany (1)
• Iraq (1)
• Panama (1)

Years

• 1989 (3)
• 1981 (2)
• 1982 (2)
• 1985 (2)
• 1987 (2)
• 1986 (1)
• 1988 (1)
• 1990 (1)
• 1992 (1)
• 1997 (1)
• 1999 (1)
• 2006 (1)

All crashes

• March 12, 2026: Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, Iraq (6 fatalities)
• May 3, 2013: Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, Chaldovar, Chuy Province, Kyrgyzstan (3 fatalities)
• September 26, 2006: Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, Bishkek-Manas, Bishkek City, Kyrgyzstan (0 fatalities)
• January 13, 1999: Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, Geilenkirchen NATO Air Base, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany (4 fatalities)
• September 2, 1997: Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, Pope AFB (Fayetteville), North Carolina, USA, United States (0 fatalities)
• May 29, 1992: Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, Pope AFB (Fayetteville), North Carolina, USA, United States (0 fatalities)
• January 11, 1990: Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, Pease AFB (Portsmouth), New Hampshire, USA, United States (0 fatalities)
• October 4, 1989: Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, Carlingford, New Brunswick, Canada (4 fatalities)
• September 20, 1989: Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, Eielson AFB, Alaska, USA, United States (2 fatalities)
• January 31, 1989: Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, Dyess AFB, Texas, USA, United States (19 fatalities)
• October 11, 1988: Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, Oscoda-Wurtsmith, Michigan, USA, United States (6 fatalities)
• March 13, 1987: Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, Fairchild AFB (Spokane), Washington, USA, United States (7 fatalities)
• February 13, 1987: Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, Altus AFB, Oklahoma, USA, United States (0 fatalities)
• June 17, 1986: Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, Howard AFB (Panama City), Panamá, Panama (4 fatalities)
• August 27, 1985: Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, Beale AFB, California, USA, United States (7 fatalities)
• February 25, 1985: Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, Valdez, Alaska, USA, United States (3 fatalities)
• March 19, 1982: Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, Greenwood, Illinois, USA, United States (27 fatalities)
• March 13, 1982: Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, Luke AFB, Arizona, USA, United States (4 fatalities)
• May 6, 1981: Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, Walkersville, Maryland, USA, United States (21 fatalities)
• March 15, 1981: Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, Shemya, Alaska, USA, United States (6 fatalities)