A squadron operations chief who had just lately earned her wings as a pilot, a serious overseeing flight coaching for dozens of airmen, and a younger increase operator remembered for his “million-dollar smile” had been amongst six US Air Force airmen killed when an aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, the Pentagon mentioned.
The airmen are 33-year-old Maj. John A. Klinner of Auburn, Alabama; 31-year-old Capt. Ariana G. Savino of Covington, Washington; 34-year-old Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt of Bardstown, Kentucky; 38-year-old Capt. Seth R. Koval of Mooresville, Indiana; 30-year-old Capt. Curtis J. Angst of Wilmington, Ohio; and 28-year-old Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons of Columbus, Ohio.
Klinner, Savino and Pruitt had been assigned to the sixth Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. All three served with the 99th Air Refueling Squadron, a geographically separated unit primarily based at Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base in Birmingham, Alabama.
“They were not only outstanding Airmen. They were our neighbors – our fellow Alabamians. May their service and that of their families never be forgotten,” Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said on X.
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Koval, Angst and Simmons had been assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine mentioned he’s mourning the entire airmen alongside the remainder of the state, together with those that had been elite members of the Ohio Air National Guard.
They had been skilled to “transfer fuel from one plane to another in midair, and their work was critical in long-distance missions in defense of our nation. Every mission they undertook involved risks that they were willing to take and the courage to put the lives of others above their own. They served with honor,” DeWine wrote on X.
Klinner was “more than a serviceman,” abandoning his spouse, Libby Klinner, and their younger youngsters — a 2-year-old and 7-month-old twins, based on a GoFundMe page organized to boost funds to help his household following his loss of life.
“He was a devoted husband, a loving father, and the kind of person who would quietly step in to help anyone who needed it. He embodied what it means to be a servant leader,” the fundraiser says.
Klinner served as a serious within the Air Force for eight years and was just lately deployed to help Operation Epic Fury, based on the GoFundMe web page.
“If his death means anything – if any of their deaths mean anything – then please, do not look away,” his aunt Jean Marie Dillon shared in a Facebook post. “His name was Major Alex Klinner, and he mattered.”
Klinner was the 99th Air Refueling Squadron’s chief of standardization and analysis, overseeing coaching and flight proficiency for greater than 30 aircrew members as an evaluator pilot, based on the Air Force. He deployed a number of occasions throughout his profession, together with in help of operations in Europe and the Middle East.
An Auburn University graduate, Klinner commissioned by means of the Air Force ROTC program in 2017.
The college mentioned in a statement it was mourning his loss of life.
“His commitment to serving our nation reflects the courage, character and sense of duty demonstrated by those who choose a life of service,” the college mentioned, whereas extending its “deepest condolences” to his household.
Savino was a “great human, a future senior leader, a mentor to Latina youth and current Air Force superstar” who died “doing what she loved,” mentioned her good friend Ernesto Nisperos in a Facebook post.
Savino was his mentee and a “source of positive energy,” he mentioned. “She was one of those people who lit up every room she walked into. That smile of hers wasn’t just infectious, it was disarming. She brought energy, grit, and a ruthless commitment to making everyone around her better,” Nisperos added.
Savino served as chief of present operations for the 99th Air Refueling Squadron, overseeing the unit’s day by day flight schedule and coordinating its coaching and missions, based on the Air Force.
She commissioned in 2017 by means of the Air Force ROTC program at Central Washington University and initially served as a fight methods officer earlier than finishing pilot coaching in 2025 and incomes her wings as a KC‑135 pilot. She deployed to the Middle East throughout her profession.
Sen. Patty Murray of Washington mentioned she was “heartbroken” by Savino’s loss of life and “deeply grateful for her courage and sacrifice in service to our country.”
Women like Savino characterize “the absolute best of our state and country,” including the nation should honor them “not only with words but by supporting the families they leave behind.”
Simmons had a “million-dollar smile” that his household knew would take him to locations, together with his dream job, his cousin Tracy Peaks instructed CNN affiliate WBNS.
Simmons performed soccer and graduated from the Eastmoor Academy High School in 2015 after which labored in safety previous to changing into a navy increase operator, the WBNS report mentioned.
His mother and father remembered the precise time uniformed officers got here to their door to tell them their son had died, his mom, Cheryl Simmons, instructed WBNS by means of tears.
Tyler was their solely baby, and his mom had as soon as hoped he would select a unique path than the navy, based on WBNS.
But his ardour for aviation and serving his nation was clear, his mom mentioned.
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther prolonged his “deepest condolences” to Simmons’ household after his “life was taken far too soon in a recent accident in Iraq.”
“We honor his memory as a true hero who served our country with courage and dedication,” Ginther mentioned.
Pruitt served as an teacher increase operator and assistant flight chief of operations with the 99th Air Refueling Squadron, the place she oversaw coaching and readiness and instructed fellow increase operators within the exact mechanics of midair refueling, based on the Air Force.
From Kentucky, she entered the Air Force in 2017 and rose steadily by means of the enlisted ranks, incomes management duties throughout the squadron and deploying a number of occasions in help of operations within the Middle East. She was promoted to technical sergeant final May.
“My prayers are with the families of the six American service-members killed in an aircraft crash in Iraq — including Tech. Sgt. Ashley Pruitt of Bardstown, Kentucky,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear mentioned on X. “They are heroes who sacrificed everything serving our country, and we, as Americans, must always remember them.”
Pruitt, Klinner and Savino had been primarily based out of MacDill Air Force Base, which mentioned it’s “devastated” by their loss. They had been members of the 99th Air Refueling Squadron, the department’s statement said.
“To lose a member of the Air Force family is excruciatingly painful, especially to those who know them as son, daughter, brother, sister, spouse, mom or dad,” mentioned US Air Force Col. Ed Szczepanik, sixth Air Refueling Wing commander.
“Our communities feel this loss deeply and Team MacDill will ensure their sacrifices and service to our nation are never forgotten.”
Koval served within the Air Force for 19 years, first enlisting as a machinist with the guard, based on the Ohio National Guard. He was answerable for coaching pilots in “worldwide air refueling, aeromedical, cargo and passenger operations,” the assertion mentioned.
Koval’s household mentioned their “world was shattered” by the sudden lack of the husband and father who had dreamed since childhood of changing into a pilot. Koval, they mentioned, wore the uniform with objective.
“My husband was many things – loving, generous, kind-hearted, smart, devoted, a fixer of all things, a real outdoorsman, and selfless,” his spouse, Heather Nicole, wrote on Facebook. “He always put others before himself – until the very end. I will see him in the smile of our son and carry him with me in every moment.”
He graduated from Purdue University in Indiana in 2011, incomes a bachelor’s diploma in aviation operations earlier than transferring to the Ohio Air National Guard in 2017, the guard mentioned.
His awards and decorations included the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, and Air and Space Achievement Medal, the guard mentioned.
Angst earned his bachelor’s diploma in aerospace engineering on the University of Cincinnati, the Ohio National Guard mentioned. He enlisted within the Ohio National Guard in May 2015 as a car upkeep technician, based on the assertion.
He earned his undergraduate pilot coaching in 2022 earlier than reaching his pilot preliminary qualification in 2024, the guard mentioned.
He was answerable for “worldwide air refueling, aeromedical, cargo and passenger operations,” the guard mentioned. Angst was beforehand deployed in 2015 to help Operation Spartan Shield, the guard mentioned.
Angst’s awards and decorations included the Air and Space Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the Meritorious Unit Award, based on the guard.
The Pentagon recognized the airmen on Saturday, because the crash stays beneath investigation.
The crew members’ deaths convey the variety of US troops killed in connection with the warfare with Iran to 13.
The crew members had been aboard a US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker refueling plane when it crashed in western Iraq, the US navy mentioned, including that the incident was “not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.”
A earlier assertion mentioned two plane had been concerned in an incident over western Iraq whereas working throughout Operation Epic Fury, the identify the Pentagon has given for the war with Iran. The assertion mentioned the second plane landed safely.
Correction: A earlier model of this text misstated when Maj. John “Alex” Klinner was deployed.
This story has been up to date with further data.
