Pentagon Releases Names and Units of Six U.S. Airmen Killed in KC‑135 Crash Over Western Iraq During Epic Fury Operations
The Pentagon identified the six U.S. airmen killed when a KC‑135 Stratotanker crashed over western Iraq during Operation Epic Fury as Capt. Seth R. Koval, Capt. Curtis J. Angst and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons (assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker ANGB, Columbus, Ohio) and Maj. John A. Klinner, Capt. Ariana G. Savino and Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt (assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill AFB, Florida). CENTCOM and U.S. officials said the tanker went down near Turaibil along the Iraq–Jordan border while flying over friendly territory, that the loss was not due to hostile or friendly fire, and that the crash followed an incident involving a second KC‑135 that landed safely; the circumstances (including a possible mid‑air collision) remain under investigation.
📌 Key Facts
- A U.S. Air Force KC‑135 Stratotanker crashed in western Iraq near Turaibil (along the Iraq–Jordan border) during a combat/refueling mission supporting Operation Epic Fury; CENTCOM gave the time as approximately 2 p.m. ET on March 12.
- The Pentagon identified all six U.S. service members killed: Maj. John A. Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Ala.; Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Wash.; Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Ky.; Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Ind.; Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio.
- Unit assignments: Klinner, Savino and Pruitt were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill AFB (Florida); Koval, Angst and Simmons were with the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker ANGB (Columbus, Ohio).
- CENTCOM and U.S. officials say the crash was not caused by hostile or friendly fire and is under investigation; U.S. officials indicated the loss followed an unspecified incident involving another aircraft (reported as a second KC‑135), and some officials have said a mid‑air collision is possible while the second tanker landed safely after declaring an emergency (FlightRadar24 data and reports noted an emergency landing in Tel Aviv).
- Initial reporting confirmed four recovered dead with ongoing rescue efforts for remaining crew; CENTCOM and later updates revised the toll to all six crew killed, bringing U.S. military deaths in the Iran war to at least 13.
- Context and implications: the KC‑135 fleet is an aging tanker based on the Boeing 707 and typically operates with small crews, raising questions about why six were aboard; this crash is the fourth publicly acknowledged U.S. aircraft loss tied to the Iran war (including three F‑15Es downed by Kuwaiti friendly fire), underscoring the logistical strain and importance of aerial refueling if the conflict continues.
- Broader U.S. response: alongside the crash and ongoing operations, the U.S. announced additional force deployments to the region (thousands more sailors and a roughly 2,500‑member Marine unit) and senior military leaders held public briefings as strikes and investigations continued.
📊 Relevant Data
Black service members face between a 32 to 71 percent greater likelihood of punishment across the military compared to White service members.
Research: Racial Inequity in and out of Uniform — Black Veterans Project
The projected proportion of Veterans who are Non-Hispanic White will decrease from 74% to 61% by 2045, with increases among Black Veterans from 12% to 15%.
Racial and Ethnic Minority Veterans — VA Office of Health Equity
Black service members are 50% more likely than White service members to receive an Other Than Honorable discharge rather than an Honorable discharge.
Black Veterans' Insight on Racial Disparities in Military Discharge Status — Journal of Veterans Studies
The KC-135 Stratotanker fleet has been in service for more than 60 years and has been involved in several fatal accidents, with the most recent prior to 2026 occurring on May 3, 2013.
All 6 crew members killed as US Air Force refueling plane crashes in Iraq — New York Post
Prices for food at home in the United States rose 29.4% between March 2020 and December 2025, with the Iran conflict projected to further increase global food prices by raising energy and transport costs.
📰 Source Timeline (25)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
March 15, 2026
3:05 PM
Thousands more U.S. sailors and Marines headed to Middle East
New information:
- CBS notes that, alongside the identification of the six airmen killed in the KC‑135 crash over western Iraq, the U.S. military is sending thousands more sailors and a 2,500‑strong Marine unit to the Middle East.
- The piece frames the new naval and Marine deployments as a direct response to the evolving Iran war and related regional operations, indicating further escalation of U.S. force posture.
12:41 PM
Pentagon identifies 6 US airmen killed in refueling tanker crash in Iraq after mid-air collision
New information:
- Article reiterates that the deadly incident involved a KC-135 refueling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq during a combat mission in support of Operation Epic Fury after an unspecified incident involving another aircraft that landed safely.
- Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine is quoted again emphasizing that the crash was not caused by hostile or friendly fire and remains under investigation.
- The piece adds personal biographical and family details for at least one victim, Maj. John "Alex" Klinner, including that he leaves behind 7-month-old twins and a 2-year-old son, was an Auburn University graduate, an eight-year Air Force veteran, and had recently moved his family into a new home.
- Relatives’ quotes describe Klinner’s character, including comments from his brother-in-law about his role as a father and his helpfulness, and from his wife about their children never getting to know him directly.
- The article reaffirms the unit assignments of the three MacDill-based crew members (Klinner, Capt. Ariana Savino, Tech. Sgt. Ashley Pruitt) and notes that the deaths bring the U.S. troop death toll in the Iran conflict to 13.
11:00 AM
U.S. military names six killed in plane crash as Iran war enters third week
New information:
- Confirms again that an Iranian proxy group has claimed responsibility for the KC-135 crash, while the Pentagon maintains the incident was caused by neither hostile nor friendly fire and is under investigation.
- Updates aggregate U.S. war casualties: 13 U.S. service members killed so far in the Iran war, seven by enemy fire, and eight severely injured, according to the Pentagon.
- Reports new Israeli Defense Forces statements that Israel has begun a new 'wave of extensive strikes' on infrastructure of the 'Iranian terror regime' in western Iran and struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, including claimed destruction of the Radwan Force headquarters in Beirut.
- Notes Saudi Arabia’s claim that it shot down 26 Iranian drones over its territory and that the United Arab Emirates reported a missile attack, with sirens sounding in Bahrain and Tel Aviv.
- Adds new rhetoric from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps via Mehr News, vowing to 'pursue' and then 'kill' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
- Includes President Trump’s NBC News comment that he is unsure whether Mojtaba Khamenei is still alive, saying 'so far no-one's been able to show him,' and reiterates Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s statement that Mojtaba was wounded.
- Reports Trump’s claim that unnamed U.S. allies have responded positively to his call to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz, even though none have publicly committed.
7:31 AM
The Latest: Gulf countries report new attacks, a day after Iran warns 3 major UAE ports to evacuate
New information:
- The article reiterates that the six airmen killed in the KC‑135 crash were supporting operations against Iran, tying the previously reported crash more explicitly to the current phase of the Iran war in a general‑audience wire update.
- It repeats the names and ages of the six service members and notes that the crash followed an unspecified incident involving two aircraft in 'friendly airspace,' with the other KC‑135 landing safely.
2:07 AM
Pentagon Names 6 Military Members Killed in Iraq Tanker Crash
New information:
- Full names, ages and hometowns of all six service members killed: Maj. John A. Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Ala.; Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Wash.; Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Ky.; Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Ind.; Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio.
- Confirmation that three of the dead (Klinner, Savino, Pruitt) were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, and the other three (Koval, Angst, Simmons) to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Ohio.
- Restatement that the KC‑135 crash followed “an incident involving another plane” that landed safely and that CENTCOM says the crash was not caused by hostile or friendly fire.
- Updated context that these six deaths bring the total number of American service members killed in the war with Iran to at least 13 as it enters its third week.
1:52 AM
U.S. identifies 6 service members killed in refueling aircraft crash in Iraq
New information:
- Pentagon publicly identified all six service members killed as Capt. Seth R. Koval (38, Mooresville, Indiana), Capt. Curtis J. Angst (30, Wilmington, Ohio), Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons (28, Columbus, Ohio), Maj. John A. Klinner (33, Auburn, Alabama), Capt. Ariana G. Savino (31, Covington, Washington), and Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt (34, Bardstown, Kentucky).
- Confirmed unit assignments: Koval, Angst and Simmons were with the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio; Klinner, Savino and Pruitt were with the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.
- CBS specifies the aircraft was a KC‑135 aerial refueling plane that crashed near Turaibil along the Iraqi‑Jordanian border while taking part in operations against Iran.
- Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, states the crew was on a combat mission but flying over friendly territory when the crash occurred.
- The story includes on‑the‑record family reaction from Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons’ mother describing the notification visit by uniformed officers.
March 14, 2026
9:30 AM
U.S. military bombs Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export hub, Trump says
New information:
- NPR’s account reaffirms that the lost aircraft was a KC‑135 refueling tanker operating over western Iraq and notes CENTCOM’s latest statement that the loss was not due to hostile or friendly fire, but keeps circumstances under investigation.
- The article folds this loss into a broader updated tally: 13 U.S. service members killed during the Iran war, seven by enemy fire and six in the KC‑135 crash, plus eight severely wounded.
- It situates the crash temporally as having occurred Wednesday and being publicly confirmed by CENTCOM on Friday.
7:42 AM
Iran War Live Updates: U.S. Says It Bombed Key Iranian Island With Oil Hub
New information:
- NYT live blog notes that the KC‑135 crash in Iraq killed all six crew members and raises the total number of U.S. service members killed in the Iran war to at least 13.
- It reiterates that CENTCOM says the crash was not caused by hostile or friendly fire and remains under investigation.
March 13, 2026
10:55 PM
More Marines heading to Middle East as U.S. continues relentless strikes on Iran
New information:
- PBS quotes a CENTCOM statement confirming six Americans were killed when their aircraft was lost in western Iraq during Operation Epic Fury.
- The segment does not specify the aircraft type or cause, underscoring that the circumstances remain under investigation.
- Hegseth uses the same appearance to claim Iran’s regime is 'crumbling' and to promise continued offensive operations.
9:30 PM
Friday’s Mini-Report, 3.13.26
New information:
- CENTCOM announced that all six crew members on the KC‑135 refueling tanker that crashed in western Iraq are dead, revising the count from four.
- CENTCOM reiterated the crash was not due to hostile or friendly fire and remains under investigation.
3:14 PM
WATCH: Hesgeth says more than 15,000 enemy targets have been hit in Iran conflict
New information:
- Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the KC‑135 incident occurred 'over friendly territory in western Iraq' and confirmed it was not the result of hostile or friendly fire.
- Caine specified that four airmen had been recovered from the crash at the time of the briefing.
- Hegseth publicly framed the deaths as evidence that 'war is chaos' and said their sacrifice would 'recommit' the U.S. to the mission against Iran.
1:56 PM
4 U.S. service members killed in Iraq during refueling aircraft incident, CENTCOM confirms
New information:
- CENTCOM is explicitly cited in the broadcast as confirming the deaths of at least four U.S. service members in the refueling incident.
- CBS frames the event simply as occurring "during a refueling effort" without adding or altering previously reported details about a likely mid‑air collision.
1:43 PM
At least 4 crew members killed in U.S. refueling aircraft crash in Iraq
New information:
- CBS specifies the crashed aircraft was a refueling plane supporting U.S. strikes on Iran at the time of the incident.
- Confirms again that at least four of the six crew members were killed, consistent with prior reporting.
1:37 PM
4 dead after U.S. military refueling plane crashed in Iraq. Here's what to know
New information:
- Article confirms the crashed aircraft was a KC‑135 refueling tanker supporting operations against Iran and is the fourth publicly acknowledged U.S. aircraft loss of the war.
- CENTCOM specifies that the crash followed an unspecified incident involving two aircraft in ‘friendly airspace,’ and a U.S. official says the second aircraft was also a KC‑135 that landed safely.
- Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter writes on X that the other KC‑135 landed safely in Israel.
- Detailed background on the KC‑135 fleet: about 376 in service (151 active duty, 163 Air National Guard, 62 Air Force Reserve), ages dating to the 1960s, and discussion of delayed transition to the KC‑46A Pegasus.
- Experts note that aging KC‑135s raise reliability concerns and that tankers will play an increasingly important role if the Iran war drags on and missions push deeper into Iranian territory.
12:25 PM
Watch Live: Hegseth, Caine give Iran war update at Pentagon
New information:
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says Iran’s missile volume is down 90% and claims all of Iran’s defense companies will be destroyed and are 'functionally defeated.'
- Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine says the KC‑135 crash occurred over 'friendly territory' during a combat mission, confirms it was not caused by hostile or friendly fire, and says the rescue operation for the remaining two crew members continues.
- CENTCOM now says about 6,000 targets have been struck inside Iran since the war began on Feb. 28.
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a temporary loosening of sanctions to allow sale of Russian oil that is already at sea, framed as a response to wartime oil price spikes.
- Iranian state media carried a statement attributed to new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen publicly, vowing to keep leveraging control of the Strait of Hormuz and to continue strikes on Gulf Arab targets.
12:24 PM
Four US service members dead after aircraft goes down in Iraq and more top headlines
New information:
- Fox positions the crash as its lead U.S. story and reiterates that four U.S. service members died after a KC-135 refueling aircraft went down in Iraq.
- No new technical, investigative, or casualty details are added beyond what is already in the existing story; it is a brief headline-level recap in a newsletter format.
12:15 PM
4 U.S. service members killed during refueling in Iraq as Iran war enters Day 14
New information:
- CBS explicitly pegs the incident to "Day 14" of the Iran war, underscoring the timeline of the conflict when the KC‑135 collision occurred.
- The segment reaffirms that the four fatalities are now confirmed U.S. service members involved in an apparent collision during refueling operations involving a KC‑135.
10:53 AM
4 more U.S. deaths, vague threat from Trump as Iran war nears 2 week mark
New information:
- CENTCOM has now formally confirmed that four of the six crew members aboard the crashed KC‑135 were killed, with recovery efforts ongoing for the remaining two.
- CBS cites U.S. officials who say a second KC‑135 Stratotanker involved in the incident was damaged but managed an emergency landing in Tel Aviv, consistent with FlightRadar24 data showing a KC‑135 declaring an emergency before landing.
- U.S. officials tell CBS they believe the incident may have involved a mid‑air collision between the two tankers, though the circumstances remain under investigation and CENTCOM stresses the loss was not due to hostile or friendly fire.
10:48 AM
4 US service members killed in refueling aircraft crash in Iraq
New information:
- CENTCOM and U.S. officials now confirm that four of the six crew members aboard the KC‑135 have been killed.
- Rescue efforts are still underway for the remaining crew members.
- The article reiterates that CENTCOM has assessed the loss was not caused by hostile or friendly fire, with the circumstances still under investigation.
10:21 AM
4 confirmed dead after U.S. military aircraft goes down in Iraq
New information:
- CENTCOM reiterates that the KC‑135 loss was not caused by hostile or friendly fire, and rescue efforts for the remaining two crew members are still ongoing with no public update on their condition.
- NPR reports that the crash raises total U.S. fatalities in the Iran war to 11 as of Thursday.
- The article cites casualty figures from Iranian, Lebanese and Israeli authorities: more than 1,300 killed in Iran, 687 in Lebanon and 12 in Israel.
- A senior regional official tells NPR Israeli leaders are preparing the public for a longer war that may end unilaterally without a negotiated agreement, risking a "war routine" of intermittent missile fire and retaliation.
- Netanyahu, in his first press conference since the start of the war, explicitly concedes he cannot say with certainty that Israeli actions will enable Iranians to topple their regime, stressing that regime change must come from inside Iran.
- President Trump posts on Truth Social that the U.S. is "totally destroying" Iran's military and economy and tells followers to "watch what happens" today, claims that go beyond what independent reporting can verify.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is scheduled to hold a Pentagon press conference Friday morning as questions mount about next steps in the conflict.
10:07 AM
4 crew members killed in crash of U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft in Iraq
New information:
- CENTCOM statement specifies the time of the crash as approximately 2 p.m. ET on March 12 and reiterates the incident occurred in western Iraq.
- CBS reports at least four of six crew members are confirmed dead while rescue efforts continue for the remaining two.
- U.S. officials tell CBS they believe the incident may have involved a mid‑air collision, with a second KC‑135 Stratotanker damaged but able to land safely.
- FlightRadar24 data indicate a KC‑135 declared an emergency before landing in Tel Aviv on Thursday evening, likely tied to the second tanker.
- An Iraqi intelligence source locates the crash near Turaibil along the Iraq–Jordan border.
- The article updates the total U.S. service‑member death toll in the Iran war to 11, including six killed in an Iranian strike on Kuwait and one in Saudi Arabia.
- Article notes this is the fourth publicly acknowledged U.S. aircraft loss connected to Operation Epic Fury, alongside the earlier friendly‑fire downing of three F‑15Es by Kuwaiti defenses.
8:07 AM
Iran War Live Updates: Israel Targets Hezbollah in Beirut as Strikes Hit City Center
New information:
- The New York Times live blog reiterates that an American military refueling jet crashed in Iraq as part of the Iran war and that the U.S. military says the crash was not due to hostile or friendly fire.
- It notes that rescue efforts and an investigation are underway but does not significantly alter prior casualty or cause assessments.
2:06 AM
U.S. military refueling plane crashes in Iraq
New information:
- CENTCOM says the KC‑135 crash in western Iraq was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire and described the aircraft as 'a loss.'
- U.S. officials say at least five crew members were aboard the crashed KC‑135, and that a second KC‑135 involved in the incident landed safely.
- This is the fourth publicly acknowledged U.S. aircraft lost in the Iran war, following three F‑15E Strike Eagles mistakenly downed by Kuwaiti friendly fire last week.
- The article reiterates Pentagon figures that about 140 U.S. service members have been wounded and seven killed so far in the Iran war, with six killed in a drone strike in Kuwait and one at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.
- The piece notes the KC‑135 fleet is based on the Boeing 707 design, has been in service for more than 60 years, and typically flies with a crew of three, raising questions about why at least five were on board.
12:09 AM
U.S. Air Force Refueling Plane Crashes in Iraq
New information:
- Confirms the crashed aircraft is a U.S. Air Force KC‑135 Stratotanker, not just a generic refueling plane.
- States that any fatalities from this crash would be the first Air Force losses of the current war with Iran.
- Reiterates that rescue operations are underway and that the U.S. military has not yet disclosed whether crew survived.
March 12, 2026