The Pentagon has released the identities of six US service members who died when a KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq following an unspecified incident involving two aircraft in friendly airspace. The other tanker involved landed safely in Israel, and US Central Command said the crash was not caused by hostile or friendly fire. The victims included Maj John “Alex” Klinner, Capt Ariana Savino, Tech Sgt Ashley Pruitt, Capt Seth Koval, Capt Curtis Angst, and Tech Sgt Tyler Simmons, several of whom were associated with the Ohio Air National Guard’s 121st Air Refueling Wing. The crash increases the US death toll in Operation Epic Fury to at least 13 service members and has raised questions about aircraft safety measures, including the lack of parachutes for KC-135 crews, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the deceased airmen as heroes.

References

• Israel
• United States Central Command
• The Pentagon
• United States Air Force
• KC-135 Stratotanker
• Boeing 707
• Pete Hegseth
• Iraq

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