The Pentagon has identified six airmen killed in an aircraft crash in western Iraq on Thursday. The crew members were aboard a US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft during Operation Epic Fury, the Pentagon's name for the war with Iran. The incident was not due to hostile or friendly fire and occurred during an unspecified interaction with another aircraft that landed safely.
Key Takeaways
The Pentagon has identified six airmen killed in an aircraft crash in western Iraq on Thursday. They were aboard a US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft during Operation Epic Fury, and the incident was not due to hostile or friendly fire.
- Six airmen identified from Alabama, Washington, Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio
- Maj. John A. Klinner leaves behind three young children
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the crew members heroes
- The crash brings US death toll in Operation Epic Fury to at least 13 service members
The airmen were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida and the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio. The identified victims are 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.
Klinner was recently promoted to major in January and had been deployed for less than a week when the crash occurred. He leaves behind three small children: 7-month-old twins and a 2-year-old son. Klinner's wife, Libby Klinner, shared her grief on Instagram, highlighting his dedication as a father and his selflessness.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the lost air crew as heroes, stating 'War is hell. War is chaos.' The crash brings the US death toll in Operation Epic Fury to at least 13 service members.
The KC-135 Stratotanker refuels other aircraft in midair, allowing them to fly longer distances and sustain operations without landing. The aircraft can also be used to transport wounded personnel and conduct surveillance missions. 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.
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