US refueling aircraft collide, damaging tail wings

A US KC-135 suffered tail wing damage after colliding with another aircraft of the same type at a base in the UK, grounding both planes.

The incident occurred at Mildenhall Air Base in the UK on 28/5, though details were only released on 3/6. According to military news site Aviationist, a KC-135R refueling aircraft, tail number 59-1509, belonging to the Tennessee Air National Guard, collided with a KC-135R, tail number 60-0362, from the 22nd Air Refueling Wing of the US Air Force, while being pushed into a parking spot.

Photos from the scene show the left horizontal stabilizer of aircraft 59-1509 torn and deformed after hitting the right horizontal stabilizer of the other plane. The extent of damage to aircraft 60-0362 is currently unknown. While deemed a minor incident, both aircraft were grounded for several days.

Two damaged KC-135 refueling aircraft at Mildenhall Air Base, UK, pictured on 2/6. Photo: *Aviationist*.

"Repair operations began at the collision site on 30/5. As of 2/6, both aircraft remained in their original positions", Aviationist stated.

The KC-135 series has been in service since 1957, sharing its prototype design with the Boeing 707 passenger jet. Each aircraft has a crew of 3-4, a maximum speed of 933 km/h, and an operational range of 2,100 km when carrying 68 tons of fuel for transfer to other aircraft.

A total of 803 KC-135 aircraft were manufactured between 1955 and 1965. As of late 2024, the US military still has 376 KC-135 aircraft in its inventory, though the number of mission-ready planes is unclear. Each KC-135 was estimated to cost nearly 40 million USD in 1998, equivalent to 77 million USD today.

A KC-135 refueling aircraft at Mildenhall Air Base, UK, on 12/4. Video: *Instagram/marklynham*.

According to Aviationist, the US KC-135 fleet suffered heavy losses during six weeks of conflict in the Middle East. One aircraft crashed and another was severely damaged in a mid-air collision in Iraq, resulting in the deaths of six US service members. Additionally, Iranian fire destroyed or damaged many aircraft while they were parked.

Since the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran took effect, two US KC-135 aircraft landed at Mildenhall Air Base covered in specialized tape. They appeared to have fuselage damage from Iranian attacks. One of these aircraft may be decommissioned for parts rather than returned to service.