US Military Identifies Crew Lost in Iraq Refuelling Plane Crash
The United States military has officially named the six crew members who died when their KC-135 refuelling aircraft crashed in Iraq. The Pentagon confirmed the identities of the airmen aboard the aircraft involved in the incident.
The crew consisted of John Klinner, 33, from Alabama; Ariana Savino, 31, from Washington; Ashley Pruitt, 34, from Kentucky; Seth Koval, 38, from Indiana; Curtis Angst, 30, from Ohio; and Tyler Simmons, 28, also from Ohio. The first three were active Air Force personnel, while the latter three served in the National Guard.
The US military has clarified that the crash, which occurred in western Iraq on Thursday, was not caused by hostile or friendly fire. The aircraft was engaged in a combat mission as part of ongoing US operations targeting Iran. It was one of two planes involved in the incident, with the second aircraft landing safely.
Details of the Incident and Investigation
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised the crew members, describing them as
"American heroes". Officials have indicated that the incident may have involved a midair collision, although investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause.
US Central Command (Centcom) reported that the crash occurred over friendly airspace. An Iraqi intelligence source informed CBS News that the first plane went down near Turaibil, a location on the Iraqi-Jordanian border.
Pro-Iranian militias are known to operate in western Iraq. Iran's military claimed on state television that an allied group had targeted the aircraft with a missile, though US officials have not confirmed this assertion.
Context Within the US-Iran Conflict
The crash on Thursday increases the official US military death toll in the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran, which began approximately two weeks ago, to 13. In addition to the six crew members killed in Iraq, six other US soldiers died in Kuwait and one in Saudi Arabia.
Since the conflict began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February, the US military has lost at least four aircraft. Earlier in March, three F-15 fighter jets were downed in what officials described as an
"apparent friendly fire incident"over Kuwait. All six crew members from that incident were able to eject safely.
About the KC-135 Stratotanker
The KC-135 Stratotanker, manufactured by Boeing during the 1950s and early 1960s, has been a critical component of the US military’s air refuelling fleet. This aircraft enables combat planes to extend their missions by refuelling midair without the need to land.
The aircraft’s crew typically includes a pilot, co-pilot, boom operator, and navigator. Fuel transfer is conducted via a boom attached to the receiving aircraft, allowing for efficient in-flight refuelling operations.
