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The Pentagon officially released the names of six U.S. crew members who tragically lost their lives in the crash of a KC-135 aerial refuelling aircraft in western Iraq earlier this week.
The crash occurred on Thursday and marked the latest tragic incident in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, bringing the total number of U.S. troops killed in operations against Iran to at least 13.
The crew members who perished in the crash were: John Klinner, 33, from Auburn, Alabama; Ariana Savino, 31, from Covington, Washington; Ashley Pruitt, 34, from Bardstown, Kentucky; Seth Koval, 38, from Mooresville, Indiana; Curtis Angst, 30, from Wilmington, Ohio; and Tyler Simmons, 28, from Columbus, Ohio.
The first three were U.S. Air Force members, while the remaining three were stationed with the U.S. Air National Guard.
Despite the claims by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a loose alliance of Iran-backed factions, that they downed the KC-135, the Pentagon confirmed that the crash was not caused by hostile or friendly fire. The U.S. Central Command stated that “the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.”
This tragic crash is at least the fourth U.S. military aircraft lost in the ongoing conflict, following three F-15s shot down by friendly fire over Kuwait.
The KC-135, which has been in operation for over 60 years, is typically crewed by three members, although some missions require additional personnel, with a maximum capacity of 37 passengers.
The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, but this event highlights the ongoing dangers faced by U.S. forces in the region, even as their adversaries continue to claim attacks on American interests.
