KC-135 That Lost Its Tail In Deadly Collision Over Iraq Now At Tinker AFB Repair Shop

Summary

A KC-135 Stratotanker (serial 63-8017) that survived a deadly mid-air collision over Iraq on March 12, which killed all six crew members aboard the other tanker (call sign Zeus 95), has arrived at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma for full repairs. After the collision, the surviving aircraft lost approximately half its tail and made an emergency landing at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, before eventually transiting through RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom with a replacement tail installed prior to arriving at Tinker on August 3. Tinker AFB hosts the Air Force's only Expeditionary Depot Maintenance unit capable of performing Aircraft Battle Damage Repair on tanker and bomber fleets, making it the sole facility equipped to handle such extensive damage. The Air Force noted that repairs are expected to follow a standard 155-day programmed depot maintenance schedule, though this timeline may be extended depending on additional damage or engineering issues discovered during inspection. Beyond the collision-damaged aircraft, multiple other KC-135s sustained shrapnel damage from Iranian attacks, with the EDMX unit completing over 200 repairs across three weeks to restore mission capability before those aircraft returned to Tinker for comprehensive restoration.