Image used for representational purposes only. File
| Photo Credit: AP
The U.S. Department of Defence on Saturday (March 14, 2026) identified the six U.S. airmen who were killed in a plane crash over Iraq.
The airmen were on a KC-135 aerial refuelling tanker supporting U.S. attacks on Iran. The crash involved another aircraft, but was not the result of hostile or friendly fire and is under investigation, the military has said.
Three airmen were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing, stationed at MacDill Air Force Base near Tampa, Florida: 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.
The other three airmen were in the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio: Captain Seth R. Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Indiana. Captain Curtis J. Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio. Technical Sergeant Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio.
Published – March 15, 2026 11:07 am IST
