A US refueling plane reportedly suffered damage in Iraqi airspace, prompting an emergency landing and a state of emergency at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport.
Iranian media outlets report that a United States refueling aircraft suffered technical failures or damage over Iraqi airspace on March 17, 2026, forcing it to reroute for an emergency landing in Israel.
According to the Iranian news channel خبری پلاس|خبرفوری 🔖فوری, the Lebanese Hezbollah-aligned network Al Mayadeen reported that a state of emergency was declared at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv to prepare for the aircraft's arrival. The conservative Iranian outlet آخرین خبر cited Iraqi sources stating that the American aircraft faced an incident again in Iraqi airspace and intends to make an emergency landing in Tel Aviv.
The IRGC-affiliated فارس بینالملل و سیاست خارجی also reported the incident, describing the aircraft as another damaged American refueling plane, implying a pattern of recent hits on US military assets.
Ground crews in Israel were heavily mobilized to respond to the incoming flight. آخرین خبر shared video footage reporting that Zionists are still waiting for the damaged American plane to land, noting that multiple ambulances have arrived at Ben Gurion Airport to receive casualties from the flight.
These events unfold amid intense regional escalation, including widespread US CENTCOM strikes on Iranian targets during Operation Epic Wrath and heavy Iranian retaliatory strikes against US positions in Erbil, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.
All provided sources are Iranian state-aligned or conservative media channels, which frequently amplify narratives regarding US and Israeli military setbacks. The core incident report traces back to Iraqi sources and the Hezbollah-aligned Al Mayadeen network.