World

US identifies six airmen killed in Iraq plane crash

March 15, 2026 5:00 pm

Source: CNN

The U.S. Department of Defense on Saturday ​identified the six U.S. airmen who ‌were killed in a plane crash over Iraq.

The airmen were on a KC-135 aerial refueling ​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.

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Three airmen were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing, stationed at ​MacDill Air Force Base near Tampa, ​Florida:

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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.

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