U.S. service members killed in refueling aircraft crash in Iraq identified as Ohio National Guard members and Florida-based crew
Six American soldiers who were killed in the crash of a military refueling plane over Iraq last week have been identified as members of the Ohio Air National Guard and crew members based in Florida.
The Ministry of Defense identified them on Saturday as:
- Captain Seth R. Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Indiana
- Captain Curtis J. Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio
- Technology. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio
- Major John A. Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Alabama
- Captain Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington
- Technology. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky
Koval, Angst and Simmons were assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Columbus, Ohio.
Klinner, Savino and Pruitt were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.
National Guard 
Simmons’ mother, Cheryl Simmons, recalled to CBS affiliate WBNS on Friday the moment uniformed police officers arrived at their home to break the news.
“When he opened the door, he said, ‘Oh no,’ and I jumped up and ran in and they were lined up on the porch,” she told the station. “’You’re kidding me.’”
The six soldiers died on March 12 when an aerial refueling plane was taking part in operations against Iran. crashed in western Iraq. The KC-135 plane crashed near Turaibil, along the Iraqi-Jordanian border, an Iraqi intelligence source told CBS News.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called them “American heroes.”
Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the crew was on a combat mission but was flying over friendly territory when the crash occurred. The incident remains under investigation, the Defense Ministry said.
