Overview
- President Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. Dan Caine and state leaders attended the dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base, which was closed to media at the families’ request.
- The fallen were identified as Maj. John A. “Alex” Klinner, Capt. Ariana G. Savino, Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, Capt. Seth R. Koval, Capt. Curtis J. Angst and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, from the 6th Air Refueling Wing and Ohio’s 121st Air Refueling Wing.
- U.S. Central Command says the KC-135 crashed March 12 over western Iraq in friendly airspace, not due to hostile or friendly fire, and that a second aircraft involved landed safely; a formal inquiry is underway.
- Hegseth said families urged leaders to “finish this,” as Pentagon officials reported ongoing strikes against Iran-aligned militias in Iraq under Operation Epic Fury.
- The U.S. death toll in the campaign stands at least at 13, while states and communities marked the losses with honors such as Alabama’s flag order and major fundraising support for Klinner’s family.