Air refueling tanker from 128th lands safely after engine issue

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A KC-135 air refueling tanker from the 128th Air Refueling Wing landed safely shortly after 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 16th after its crew reported a mechanical problem. Apparently one of the four engines on the tanker was out of service.

The aircraft circled Mitchell for about 30 to 40 minutes prior to landing -- as a way to burn off fuel. That's because the tanker was simply too heavy to land at that point.

The KC-135 was on a routine stateside mission when the air emergency sounded.

The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling military aircraft. It and the Boeing 707 airliner were developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype. The Stratotanker was initially tasked to refuel strategic bombers, but was used extensively in the Vietnam War and later conflicts such as Operation Desert Storm to extend the range and endurance of US tactical fighters and bombers.



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