DoW Identifies KC-135 Air Force Casualties
14 March 2026
The Department of War announced the death of six Air Force Airmen who were supporting Operation Epic Fury.
The six Airmen died on March 12, 2026, in the crash of a KC-135 in western Iraq. The incident is under investigation. On March 14 the Pentagon identified the deceased as:
Maj John A. Klinner, 33, of Auburn, AL
Capt Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, WA
TSgt Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, KY
were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, FL
Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, of Mooresville, IN
Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, of Wilmington, OH
TSgt Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus, OH
were assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Columbus, Ohio.
TSgt Tyler Simmons, a boom operator for the aircraft and one of the six Airmen who were aboard a KC-135 Stratotanker that crashed in western Iraq on 12 March 2026, was a prior Defender.
