The U.S. Department of Defense on March 14 released the names of the six service members killed when their KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq while performing a mission for Operation Epic Fury.
The service members killed are:
- Major John A. (Alex) Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Alabama
- Captain Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington
- Technical Sergeant Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky
- 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
Three of the service members—Klinner, Savino, and Pruitt—served with the 99th Air Refueling Squadron based at Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base in Birmingham, Alabama. This squadron operates closely with the 117th Air Refueling Wing of the Alabama National Guard.
Leadership of the 117th Air Refueling Wing stated the unit is "deeply saddened" by the loss. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey said the fallen service members were not only exceptional aviators but also neighbors and Alabamians dedicated to their country.
According to the U.S. military, the crash occurred on March 12 in western Iraq. Search and recovery operations for the service members were completed on March 13.
Major Alex Klinner, a 2016 graduate of Auburn University, joined the Air Force in 2017 through the ROTC program. He had served in multiple military operations, including INHERENT RESOLVE, ATLAS GUARDIAN, SOUTHERN SPEAR, and EPIC FURY, totaling 362 combat flight hours and 181 combat support hours.
Captain Ariana Savino served as the Chief of Current Operations Pilot for the 99th Squadron, overseeing the unit's $21 million flight program and coordinating flight schedules and pilot training.
Technical Sergeant Ashley Pruitt was a KC-135 Instructor Boom Operator, responsible for training aerial refueling techniques and monitoring aircrew combat readiness.
The remaining three service members—Koval, Angst, and Simmons—served with the 121st Air Refueling Wing of the Ohio National Guard in Columbus. Leadership of the force stated their passing leaves a significant void in the unit.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation by the U.S. military.
