The port horizontal stabilizer of one KC-135 jammed the starboard stabilizer of another tanker parked nearby.
The U.S. KC-135 Stratotanker fleet continues to be plagued by various accidents. A recent, fortunately minor incident, but sufficient to keep the aircraft involved grounded for several days, occurred during ground operations at RAF Mildenhall, England, on May 28-29, 2026.
A KC-135R (59-1509) belonging to the 151st ARS (Aerial Refueling Squadron) of the Tennessee ANG collided with an unmarked KC-135R(T)60-0362 aircraft belonging to the 22nd ARW (Aerial Refueling Wing) while backing into a parking space by a tow vehicle. 59-1509’s port horizontal stabilizer collided with 60-0362’s starboard stabilizer, causing visible tearing and deformation.
Repairs were made on May 30 on the parking ramp where the accident occurred, and as of June 2, both aircraft remained stationary in their original positions.
Although taken from a considerable distance away from the base, the images taken by photographer Bob Archer give an idea of the extent of damage to KC-135R 59-1509.
Despite 60 years of service, the KC-135 remains a significant asset in the U.S. Air Force inventory. The size of the fleet remains impressive, with more than 350 KC-135s and just over 100 KC-46s in service. Maintaining high-speed operations still requires hundreds of tanker sorties. As explained in a previous article reporting the passage of another KC-135 to RAF Mildenhall, massively covered in patches (or BDR – Battle Damage Repair), the tanker fleet was hit hard during Operation Epic Fury. In addition to losing a Stratotanker in a fatal mid-air accident over Iraq that claimed the lives of six crew members and damaged a tanker and a helicopter, an unspecified number of KC-135s (and at least one KC-46, according to images circulated online) were damaged by Iranian missile and unilateral drone attacks on Prince Sultan Air Base and other bases across the region.
