Overview
- The Defense Department named the victims as Maj. John A. Klinner, Capt. Ariana G. Savino, Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, Capt. Seth R. Koval, Capt. Curtis J. Angst and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons.
- Officials said the KC-135 Stratotanker went down in western Iraq during a support mission and that the incident was not the result of enemy fire or fratricide, with the cause under investigation.
- Three aircrew were assigned to MacDill AFB’s 99th Air Refueling Squadron and three to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker in Ohio; the fallen were ages 28 to 38.
- The tanker was supporting Operation Epic Fury, part of the refueling and resupply network that keeps U.S. aircraft on station and can also be configured for cargo or patient transport.
- An earlier military statement noted two KC-135s were involved and said the second aircraft landed safely, while officials have not determined a definitive cause.