Pentagon identifies six U.S. airmen killed in KC-135 crash in Iraq

The Pentagon officially identified six U.S. Air Force personnel who died when their KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on March 12, 2026.

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10tv

The Department of Defense confirmed the identities of the crew members on Saturday, bringing the total U.S. death toll in the Iran conflict to at least 13 service members.

ABC

U.S. Central Command stated that the crash occurred in 'friendly airspace' during combat operations and involved two aircraft, with the second plane landing safely.

Military officials emphasized that preliminary investigations found no evidence of hostile or friendly fire involvement.

The exact circumstances remain under investigation as rescue operations concluded on March 13.

The deceased airmen represented a mix of active-duty and Air National Guard personnel from different states across the United States.

The crew included Maj. John A. Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Alabama; Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington; Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky; Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Indiana; Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio.

ABC 33/40

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

Family members and local leaders have begun sharing personal tributes, with Klinner remembered as a devoted father of three young children, including 7-month-old twins.

Simmons was described as having an infectious smile that could light up any room.

The KC-135 Stratotanker involved in the crash is a critical component of U.S. military aviation, designed for mid-air refueling operations that extend the range and endurance of combat aircraft.

According to military experts, the aircraft has been in service for over 60 years and can transfer up to 150,000 pounds of fuel to other aircraft.

The crash occurred near Turaibil, along the Iraqi-Jordanian border, during what officials described as a routine refueling mission.

While U.S. Central Command confirmed that the loss was 'not due to hostile fire or friendly fire,' an anonymous U.S. official revealed that the other aircraft involved was also a KC-135.

The second aircraft reportedly landed safely in Israel, with flight tracking data showing it had declared an emergency before landing.

The crash represents the fourth publicly acknowledged U.S. military aircraft loss since the Iran conflict escalated on February 28, 2026.

Previous incidents included three U.S. F-15E fighter jets that were mistakenly downed by friendly Kuwaiti air defenses during active combat.

Aerobuzz

All six crew members from those incidents safely ejected and were recovered.

The Pentagon has reported that approximately 140 U.S. service members have been wounded in the Iran war, with eight remaining severely injured.

This latest tragedy underscores the growing human cost of Operation Epic Fury as U.S. forces continue military operations across the Middle East.

Military and civilian leaders have responded to the tragedy with expressions of grief and tributes to the fallen airmen.

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11Alive

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the crew as 'American heroes,' stating that 'War is hell. War is chaos. And as we saw yesterday with the tragic crash of our KC-135 tanker, bad things can happen.'

AeroTime

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine acknowledged the sacrifice made by the service members, noting that 'Our service members make an incredible sacrifice to go forward and do the things that the nation asks of them.'

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey expressed condolences for three of the airmen who were stationed at the 117th Air Refueling Wing in Birmingham, calling them 'outstanding Airmen' and 'our neighbors — our fellow Alabamians.'

The MacDill Air Force Base and Ohio National Guard have established Family Assistance Centers to support the grieving families.