Pentagon identifies six US Air Force airmen killed in KC-135 crash in western Iraq

The Pentagon has identified six US Air Force airmen who were killed when a KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on March 12, 2026, during Operation Epic Fury.

“Personalized content and ads can also include things like video recommendations, a customized YouTube homepage, and tailored ads based on past activity, like the videos you watch and the things you search for on YouTube”

10tv

U.S. Central Command confirmed that the crash occurred in friendly airspace and involved two aircraft, with one going down and the other landing safely.

ABC

The military has maintained that the incident was not due to hostile or friendly fire, though the exact circumstances remain under investigation.

This crash marks the fourth US military aircraft lost since the beginning of the Iran war on February 28, following three F-15 fighter jets mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses in an apparent friendly fire incident.

The six deceased service members have been identified as Major John A. Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Alabama; Captain Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington; Technical Sergeant Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky; Captain Seth R. Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Indiana; Captain Curtis J. Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio; and Technical Sergeant Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio.

Three of the airmen were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, while the other three were members of the Ohio Air National Guard's 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus.

ABC 33/40

Their deaths bring the total number of American service members killed in connection to the war with Iran to at least 13, with approximately 140 more wounded, eight of them severely.

The KC-135 Stratotanker is a crucial component of the US Air Force's refueling operations, enabling aircraft to remain airborne for extended periods during long-range missions.

According to military experts, the aircraft can transfer fuel to other aircraft while in flight and can also be configured to carry cargo or passengers if needed.

The KC-135 has been in service for over 60 years, with the oldest aircraft first flying in 1957, and remains a vital strategic advantage for US military operations dating back to the Vietnam War.

The Air Force currently operates approximately 376 KC-135s, including 151 on active duty, 163 in the Air National Guard, and 62 in the Air Force Reserve.

These tankers have become especially important during the current Iran conflict, where aircraft operate across a vast region stretching from the Persian Gulf to Iraq and Syria.

The crash has sparked tributes from family members, local communities, and military leadership.

Families began disclosing the devastating losses over the weekend, with tributes pouring in for the airmen from their loved ones.

Aerobuzz

Captain Savino was remembered as "a great human, a future senior leader, a mentor to Latina youth, and current Air Force superstar," while Technical Sergeant Simmons was praised for his infectious smile and dedication to service.

The MacDill Air Force Base expressed its devastation over the loss of three of its members, stating "To lose a member of the Air Force family is excruciatingly painful."

The Ohio Air National Guard also mourned the deaths of Koval and Angst, highlighting their contributions to air refueling operations and aviation training.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey noted that three of the airmen were "our neighbors — our fellow Alabamians," while Ohio political leaders expressed condolences for the fallen service members.

The military has launched an investigation into the crash, though officials have provided few details about the potential causes.

“en EnglishUnited States Deutsch English Español Français Italiano العربية All languages Afrikaans azərbaycan bosanski català Čeština Cymraeg Dansk Deutsch eesti EnglishUnited Kingdom EspañolEspaña EspañolLatinoamérica euskara Filipino FrançaisCanada FrançaisFrance Gaeilge galego Hrvatski Indonesia isiZulu íslenska Italiano Kiswahili latviešu lietuvių magyar Melayu Nederlands norsk o‘zbek polski PortuguêsBrasil PortuguêsPortugal română shqip Slovenčina slovenščina srpski (latinica) Suomi Svenska Tiếng Việt Türkçe Ελληνικά беларуская български кыргызча қазақ тілі македонски монгол Русский српски Українська ქართული հայերեն עברית اردو العربية فارسی አማርኛ नेपाली मराठी हिन्दी অসমীয়া বাংলা ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ગુજરાતી ଓଡ଼ିଆ தமிழ் తెలుగు ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം සිංහල ไทย ລາວ မြန်မာ ខ្មែរ 한국어 日本語 简体中文 繁體中文 繁體中文香港 Sign in Sign in”

11Alive

Early assessments indicate there is no evidence of hostile fire or friendly fire, but the presence of a second aircraft suggests some kind of catastrophic error or mechanical failure during an attempt at in-flight refueling.

AeroTime

KC-135s have been involved in several fatal accidents throughout their history, including a crash in 2013 south of Chaldovar, Kyrgyzstan, where the crew experienced problems with the plane's rudder.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed armed factions, claimed responsibility for downing the US military aircraft, stating they had shot down the KC-135 "in defense of our country's sovereignty and airspace."

However, US officials have maintained that the crash was not due to hostile fire.

The Pentagon has asked for patience while gathering more details and providing clarity for the families of the service members involved, with further information expected to be released as the investigation progresses.