US authorities have released the identities of the six crew members who died after a US military refuelling aircraft crashed in Iraq earlier this week.
The Boeing KC-135 tanker was flying in what officials described as “friendly” airspace over western Iraq on 12 March when an unspecified incident involving another aircraft occurred, according to US Central Command. Authorities confirmed the second aircraft landed safely.
An umbrella organisation linked to Iranian-aligned groups, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, claimed responsibility for the crash. However, US officials stated the incident “was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire”.
Major John A Klinner, 33, was among those killed in the crash. He had been deployed less than a week earlier.
“It’s kind of heartbreaking to say, he was just a really good dad and really loved his family a lot – like a lot,” his brother-in-law James Harrill said.
US Military Confirms Identities Of Six Air Force Crew Members
Following confirmation from families, the US Department of War officially named all six personnel who died in the crash.
They are:
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
Major John A Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Alabama
Technical Sergeant Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio
The chief of the National Guard Bureau later shared a photograph of the crew on social media platform X.
Shannon and I join our entire National Guard family in mourning the loss of six brave KC-135 Airmen, including three Ohio Air National Guardsmen assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing and three active-duty Airmen from the 99th Air Refueling Squadron, a partner unit with the… pic.twitter.com/4GuUAt87TN
— Gen. Steven Nordhaus (@ChiefNGB) March 15, 2026
Major Klinner, Captain Savino and Technical Sergeant Pruitt were assigned to the 6th Air Refuelling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida.
Captain Koval, Captain Angst and Technical Sergeant Simmons served with the 121st Air Refuelling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio.
Families And Colleagues Pay Tribute To Fallen Airmen
Family members and colleagues have paid tribute to the airmen who died in the crash.
Major Klinner, an eight-year US Air Force veteran from Auburn, Alabama, had recently moved into a new home with his family, according to a social media post by his wife, Libby Klinner. The couple share seven-month-old twins and a two-year-old son.
Technical Sergeant Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio, was also among the victims. In a statement obtained by WCMH-TV, his family remembered him fondly.
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“His smile could light up any room,” the statement read. “His parents, grandparents, family and friends are grief stricken for the loss of life.”
The Air National Guard also expressed condolences following the announcement.
“We share in the sorrow of their loved ones, and we must not forget the valuable contributions these Airmen made to their country and the impact they have left on our organisation,” the Air National Guard said in a social media post.
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