The United States Department of Defense has released the identities of six service members who died after a KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Thursday.
According to the Pentagon, three of the victims were members of the 6th Air Refueling Wing based at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida. They were identified as Maj. John A. Klinner, 33, from Auburn, Alabama; Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, from Covington, Washington; and Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, from Bardstown, Kentucky.
The remaining three airmen served with the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio. They were named as Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, from Mooresville, Indiana; Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, from Wilmington, Ohio; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28, from Columbus, Ohio.
Officials said the incident occurred on March 12 while the aircraft was operating in friendly airspace over western Iraq as part of Operation Epic Fury. The KC-135 tanker was reportedly involved in a mission alongside another refueling aircraft at the time of the crash.
The Pentagon stated that an investigation is underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the accident. Military authorities have not yet disclosed the possible cause of the crash.
