The Department of War on Saturday identified the six Air Force airmen killed in the crash of a KC-135 in western Iraq, saying the crew had been supporting Operation Epic Fury.
The service said the airmen died on Thursday, March 12, 2026. They were identified as 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.
According to the Air Force, Klinner, Savino and Pruitt were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida. Koval, Angst and Simmons were assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio.
Earlier, U.S. Central Command had confirmed that a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft was lost in western Iraq during Operation Epic Fury. CENTCOM said the incident happened in friendly airspace and that two aircraft were involved, with one going down in western Iraq and the second landing safely.
CENTCOM also said the loss of the aircraft was not caused by hostile fire or friendly fire. The military said the circumstances of the crash remained under investigation.
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