Get you up to speed: Six US service members die in KC-135 refuelling plane crash in Iraq
Six Americans were killed on Thursday when the KC-135 refuelling plane they were on crashed in Iraq during operations in the Middle East. The Department of Defence has named the six soldiers killed as Captain Ariana G. Savino, Major John ‘Alex’ Klinner, Sergeant Ashley B. Pruitt, Captain Seth R. Koval, Captain Curtis J. Angst, and Sergeant Tyler H. Simmons.
The US Central Command stated that the KC-135 crash was “not due to hostile or friendly fire” and that an investigation into the circumstances is ongoing. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth characterised the incident, saying, “War is hell. War is chaos,” in reference to the tragic loss of the aircraft and its crew.
The Secretary of Defence, Pete Hegseth, acknowledged the tragic loss of the KC-135 tanker, stating, “War is hell. War is chaos,” as the circumstances of the crash are currently under investigation by US Central Command. Following the incident, Operation Epic Fury has recorded at least 13 US service members’ deaths, with ongoing military operations in the Middle East.
First pictures of the US soldiers killed in Iraq military plane crash | News World
Six soldiers were killed over Iraqi airspace while in their refuelling plane (Picture: DOD)
Six Americans were killed on Thursday when the KC-135 refuelling plane they were on crashed in Iraq during operations in the Middle East.
The crash brings the US death toll in Operation Epic Fury to at least 13 service members, with the seven others killed in combat.
The Department of Defence has now named the six soldiers killed as: Captain Ariana G. Savino, Major John ‘Alex’ Klinner, Sergeant Ashley B. Pruitt, Captain Seth R. Koval, Captain Curtis J. Angst and Sergeant Tyler H. Simmons.
The soldiers have been remembered for their ‘grit’, infectious smiles, and loving parenting.
Captain Ariana Savino
Washington, who was assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing, stationed at MacDill Air Force Base near Tampa, Florida, at an undisclosed location in this handout image released on March 14, 2026. Savino was one of the six U.S. airmen who died on March 12, 2026, during the crash of a KC-135 aerial refueling tanker supporting U.S. attacks on Iran. DVIDS/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY REFILE – CORRECTING DATE OF RELEASE FROM ” march=”” to=”” decoding=”async” loading=”lazy”/>
Captain Savnio had a ‘disarming’ smile (Picture: Reuters)
Captain Ariana Savino, 31, was based at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida and was described as a ‘superstar’.
‘She was one of those people who lit up every room she walked into. That smile of hers wasn’t just infectious, it was disarming.
‘She brought energy, grit, and a ruthless commitment to making everyone around her better,’ her friends remembered.
Major John ‘Alex’ Klinner
Major Klinner leaves behind his two-year-old son and seven-month-old twins (Picture: GoFundMe)
Major John ‘Alex’ Klinner, 33, leaves behind his wife, seven-month-old twins and two-year-old son, having just been promoted in January and being deployed to the Middle East for only a week.
James Harill, his brother-in-law, told local news: ‘He was just a really good dad and really loved his family a lot — like a lot.’
Major Klinner’s wife, Libby, wrote online: ‘I’m devastated to lose the best person I know, the person that made everything more fun, my best friend.
‘But even more so, my heart is broken for our three kids who will grow up not knowing him.’
Sergeant Ashley B. Pruitt
Ashley leaves behind her young daughter and husband (Picture: Reuters)
34-year-old Seargant Ashley Pruitt was born in Bardstown, Kentucky, and leaves behind her husband, stepchildren and three-year-old daughter.
A GoFundMe set up for her family reads: ‘She worked hard for the family she always wanted and cherished them all.
‘Ashley’s loss leaves an unimaginable hole for her family, friends and fellow Airmen.’
Captain Seth R. Koval
Captain Seth Koval leaves behind his wife and son (Picture: Facebook)
Captain Seth Koval, from Mooresville, Indiana, leaves behind his wife Heather and his young son.
Heather wrote on Facebook: ‘Seth was a man whose life I could never confine to a single statement and whose loss will echo in my heart forever.
‘Seth was exceptional in everything he did. He was truly the most amazing husband, father, son, brother, friend, and Airman. He loved what he did, and he was proud to put his uniform on and serve others.’
Captain Curtis J. Angst
Captain Curtis Angst leaves behind his wife and family (Picture: Facebook)
Captain Curtis Angst, 30, was born and raised in Wilmington, Ohio, and attended the University of Cincinnati.
He married his wife, Mary, last year, and has been mourned by his hometown.
Wilmington City Schools Superintendent Tim Dettwiller sent an email to the community on Friday, showing support for Captain Angst’s mother, Lisa Angst, an employee.
‘Last night, the family of Lisa Angst… was notified by the military that her son was among those in the military aircraft crash in Iraq yesterday.
‘It was just announced that all six crew members are deceased.’
Sergeant Tyler H. Simmons
Tyler Simmons has been remembered for his ‘million-dollar smile’ (Picture: Facebook)
Sergeant Tyler Simmons, 28, has been remembered for his ‘million-dollar smile’.
An only child, his mother, Cheryl, told local media she broke down in tears when uniformed officers came to her home to tell her the terrible news.
‘When he (another relative) opened the door, he said, “Oh no,” and I jumped up and ran in there, and they were lined up out on the porch,’ Cheryl told local news, beginning to cry.
What to know about the crash
The KC-135 has been in service for more than 60 years and has been involved in several fatal accidents, most recently in 2013.
US Central Command said the circumstances of the crash are under investigation but that the loss of the aircraft was “not due to hostile or friendly fire”.
‘War is hell. War is chaos,’ Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth said.
‘And as we saw yesterday with the tragic crash of our KC-135 tanker, bad things can happen. American heroes, all of them.’
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