Pentagon identifies 6 US airmen killed in KC-135 tanker crash in Iraq

The Pentagon has identified six US service members who were killed in the crash of a KC-135 refueling plane. western Iraq during a combat mission in support of Operation Epic Fury.

The incident, which occurred on Thursday, occurred in “friendly” airspace during an unspecified incident involving another plane. As the other plane landed safely, the KC-135 crashed. Military officials said the incident was not caused by hostile or friendly fire and was still under investigation.

The Airmen were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Aviation Base in Florida and the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base Columbus, Ohioaccording to U.S. government and state officials.

Those killed were Maj. John “Alex” Klinner, 33; Captain Ariana Savino, 31 years old; Technology. Sgt. Ashley Pruitt, 34; Captain Seth Koval, 38; Captain Curtis Angst, 30 years old; and technology. Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28 years old.

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Major John ‘Alex’ Klinner

Maj. John “Alex” Klinner, 33, leaves behind three young children: 7-month-old twins and a 2-year-old son, his brother-in-law, James Harrill, confirmed.

An Auburn University graduate and eight-year U.S. Air Force veteran from Birmingham, Alabama, Klinner had recently moved his family into a new home, according to his wife, Libby Klinner.

The Pentagon has identified six U.S. Air Force airmen killed when their plane crashed in western Iraq, as investigators work to determine the cause of the deadly incident. (Mary Remmes via AP)

“It’s kind of heartbreaking to say: He was just a really good father and he really loved his family, really, really, really really,” Harrill said.

An avid outdoorsman and hiker, Klinner was also known for helping others. Harrill recalled that when he last saw him in January at a family wedding, Klinner helped clear Harrill’s vehicle from the snow.

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“Alex was one of those guys who had that constant command,” Harrill said. “He was literally one of the kindest and most generous.”

Libby Klinner said her heart is broken for their children, who will grow up without knowing their father.

“They won’t be able to see for themselves how he would jump to help in any way possible,” she wrote in a message. “They won’t see how goofy and funny he was. They won’t witness his selflessness, how he thought of everyone before himself. They won’t feel the deep love he had for them.”

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Klinner was assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, although Alabama Governor Kay Ivey said he was stationed in Birmingham.

Captain Ariana Savino

Capt. Ariana Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington, was also assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base.

The death of six US Air Force airmen in a plane crash in Iraq brings to 13 the number of American soldiers killed in the Iranian conflict. (Reuters)

Savino was part of the crew aboard the KC-135 refueling plane when it crashed in western Iraq.

Technology. Sgt. Ashley Pruitt

Technology. Sgt. Ashley Pruitt, 34, from Bardstown, Kentuckywas the third member of the MacDill-based crew killed in the accident.

Six American airmen died in the crash of a US Air Force plane in western Iraq, officials said, bringing to 13 the number of US troops killed in the conflict with Iran. (Reuters)

Pruitt served in the 6th Air Refueling Wing and was deployed on the mission when the plane crashed.

Captain Seth Koval

Captain Seth Koval, 38, served as a KC-135R Stratotanker instructor pilot with the 166th Air Refueling Squadron, 121st Air Refueling Wing in Columbus, Ohio.

The U.S. military has released the names of six Air Force airmen killed in a crash in western Iraq as the investigation into the incident continues. (United States Air Force)

The Ohio National Guard said Koval was an aircraft commander with 19 years of service. While the Ohio National Guard listed his home as Stoutsville, Ohio, the U.S. government listed his hometown as Mooresville, Indiana.

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A graduate of Purdue University, Koval first enlisted in 2006 as a machinist in the Indiana National Guard’s 122nd Fighter Wing before transferring to the Ohio Air National Guard in 2017. He earned his commission in 2018 and completed his instructor pilot upgrade in 2024. During his career, Koval has logged a total of 2,076 flight hours, including 443 combat hours.

Captain Curtis Angst

Capt. Curtis Angst, 30, served as a KC-135R pilot with the 166th Air Refueling Squadron of the 121st Air Refueling Wing in Columbus, Ohio.

While the Ohio National Guard listed his home as Columbus, the U.S. government listed his hometown as Wilmington, Ohio. A University of Cincinnati graduate in aerospace engineering, Angst originally enlisted in the Ohio Air National Guard in 2015 as a vehicle maintenance technician with the 123rd Air Control Squadron.

Six airmen, including a squadron operations chief and several captains, died in the crash of a US Air Force plane in western Iraq, the Pentagon said. (United States Air Force)

He earned his commission in 2021, completed his undergraduate pilot training in 2023, and qualified as a KC-135R pilot in April 2024. During his career, Angst logged a total of 880 flight hours, including 67 combat hours.

Technology. Sgt. Tyler Simmons

Technology. Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio, served as a KC-135R boom operator with the 166th Air Refueling Squadron. He was responsible for transferring fuel from the tanker to the receiving aircraft during missions.

Among those killed in the Iraq crash were a prominent flight training supervisor and a boom operator known for his “million-dollar smile.” (United States Air Force)

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Simmons entered the Air Force in 2017 and initially served in the security forces before transitioning to aviation in 2022. He became a mobility force aviator in 2023 and achieved the rank of technical sergeant on May 1, 2023. During his career, Simmons logged 779 total flight hours, including 230.4 combat hours.

Simmons’ family told WCMH-TV in Columbus they were devastated by the loss.

“Tyler’s smile could light up any room, his strong presence would fill it. His parents, grandparents, family and friends are grieved by the loss of life,” they said.

Ohio’s Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Matthew S. Woodruff, said the state mourns the loss of Ohio’s three “remarkable” airmen.

“Today we mourn the loss of three remarkable Airmen whose service and commitment epitomized the best of our Ohio National Guard,” Woodruff said.

US Central Command said the plane crashed during a combat mission over western Iraq, in “friendly” territory. Military officials said the incident involved an unspecified interaction with another aircraft that had landed safely and that the crash was not caused by hostile or friendly fire.

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The KC-135 Stratotanker refuels other aircraft in flight, allowing them to travel longer distances and continue operations without landing. The aircraft can also be used to transport injured personnel and conduct surveillance missions.

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker tanker aircraft takes off from Kadena Air Base Airfield in the city of Kadena, west of Okinawa, southern Japan, Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

The Congressional Research Service says the Air Force had 376 KC-135 aircraft last year, including 151 on active duty, 163 in the Air National Guard and 62 in the Air Force Reserve. The aircraft has been in service for over 60 years.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.