The replacement fin came from KC-135R 63-8002, which flew to Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, on March 10, 2026. Fatal collision over Iraq during Operation Epic Fury: what happened63-8017 is operated by the 314th Air Refueling Squadron, an Air Force Reserve Command unit of the 940th Air Refueling Wing at Beale Air Force Base, California. A dignified transfer for the crew was held at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, on March 18, 2026. KC-135R 59-1444 landed there on April 12, 2026, covered in battle damage repair patches, before continuing to the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex at Tinker Air Force Base. Several tankers were damaged in Iranian missile and drone attacks on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, the same strikes that damaged a US Air Force E-3 Sentry.