WASHINGTON – Pentagon officials released Saturday the identities of six American Air Force personnel who perished in an aircraft accident over Iraq.
The service members were aboard a KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft conducting operations in support of U.S. military strikes against Iran. Military officials stated the incident involved a collision with another aircraft but was not caused by enemy fire or friendly fire, and remains under investigation.
Half of the fallen airmen served with the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base near Tampa, Florida. They were Major John A. Klinner, 33, from Auburn, Alabama; Captain Ariana G. Savino, 31, from Covington, Washington; and Technical Sergeant Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, from Bardstown, Kentucky.
The remaining three personnel were members of the 121st Air Refueling Wing stationed at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio. Those airmen were Captain Seth R. Koval, 38, from Mooresville, Indiana; Captain Curtis J. Angst, 30, from Wilmington, Ohio; and Technical Sergeant Tyler H. Simmons, 28, from Columbus, Ohio.
