The American planes stationed in Bucharest had their first refueling mission in the context of the war in the Middle East.

Three of the five KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft of the United States Air Force stationed in Romania carried out their first air refueling missions on the night of March 19-20, in the context of the war in the Middle East.

The planes took off from Bucharest and refueled military aircraft in the air south of Cyprus, the mission lasting almost six hours.

"Three of the five Boeing KC135 Stratotanker aircraft of the United States Air Force stationed in Bucharest carried out their first air refueling missions on the night of March 19-20, 2026. The planes took off Thursday evening from Bucharest, refueled military aircraft in the air south of Cyprus, and then returned to Bucharest. The mission lasted almost six hours," writes BoardingPass.

These aircraft arrived in Romania last weekend and are operational at the airbase near Otopeni.

The Minister of Defense, Radu Miruță, said on March 15 that the first three planes landed at the base in Otopeni.

"The approval is for Otopeni and for Mihail Kogălniceanu for these tanker-type aircraft. If they decide to take them to Otopeni or Mihail Kogălniceanu, it is a decision of the American partner about which we have no information, simply their strategic decision. What I can tell you is that the only ones that have landed so far are those from this morning, these three tanker planes," Radu Miruță specified.

Their deployment was approved by the Romanian authorities, in the context of using Romanian military bases for logistical operations related to the conflict in the Middle East. KC-135 Stratotanker are specialized in air refueling, thus extending the operational range of fighter jets and bombers.