The Defense Department has identified the six U.S. servicemembers who were killed in a KC-135 refueling aircraft crash in western Iraq on Thursday.
The airmen were identified as Maj. John A. Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Ala.; Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Wash.; Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Ky., Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Ind.; Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio.
Klinner, Savino and Pruitt were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing out of MacDill Air Force Base in Florida. Koval, Angst and Simmons were assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base out of Columbus, Ohio.
The KC-135 went down over western Iraq on March 12 following an incident involving two aircraft in “friendly airspace” during Operation Epic Fury, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). It was not caused by hostile or friendly fire, and the other plane “landed safely,” officials said.
The Pentagon confirmed on Saturday that the incident was under investigation.
KC-135 aircraft have a range of up to 1,500 miles with about 150,000 pounds of transfer fuel and can provide refueling support to the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and other allied aircraft.
At least 13 U.S. servicemembers have been killed and about 140 others wounded, including eight with severe injuries, since the start of the U.S.-Israeli military operation on Feb. 28, according to figures from the Pentagon.
