On March 12, 2026, all six died when their KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in western Iraq while supporting Operation Epic Fury.
They were a pilot who had just pinned on his major's rank, a boom operator who had nearly 900 combat flight hours, a captain who had only recently earned her wings, and three Ohio National Guardsmen who answered their state and country's call from a base in Columbus.
On March 12, all six died when their KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in western Iraq while supporting refueling operations for Operation Epic Fury. The incident involved another aircraft and was not the result of hostile or friendly fire. The tragic incident remains under investigation, U.S. Central Command and the Pentagon have said. There were no survivors.
The Department of War publicly identified the six airmen on March 14. Three—Maj. John "Alex" Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Alabama; Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington; and Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky—were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. The other three—Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Indiana; Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio—were assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus.
"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," said Col. Ed Szczepanik, commander of the 6th Air Refueling Wing, in a statement posted to MacDill's Instagram account on March 13.
"To lose them at the same time is unimaginable."
The KC-135 Stratotanker, which has been in service for more than six decades, is primarily used to refuel other aircraft in midair, extending their operational range. It can also be used to evacuate wounded personnel and conduct surveillance. As of 2025, the Air Force operated 376 KC-135s—151 on active duty, 163 in the Air National Guard, and 62 in the Air Force Reserve, according to the Congressional Research Service.
MacDill Air Force Base said in its statement that it would honor the fallen every day. "Team MacDill will ensure their sacrifices and service to our nation are never forgotten," Szczepanik wrote.
