U.S. identifies 6 service members killed in refueling aircraft crash in Iraq

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Six U.S. work members who were killed successful a subject refueling craft clang implicit Iraq past week person been identified arsenic members of the Ohio Air National Guard and Florida-based unit members.

The Department of Defense connected Saturday identified them as:

Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Indiana
Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio
Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio
Maj. John A. Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Alabama
Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington
Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky

Koval, Angst and Simmons were assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing astatine Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Columbus, Ohio.

Klinner, Savino and Pruitt were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.

Simmons' mother, Cheryl Simmons, recalled to CBS affiliate WBNS Friday the infinitesimal uniformed officers arrived astatine their location to present the news.

"When helium opened the doorway helium said, 'Oh no,' and I jumped up and ran successful determination and they were lined up retired connected the porch," she told the station. "'You got to beryllium kidding me.'"

The six serviced members died connected March 12 erstwhile an aerial refueling craft taking portion successful operations against Iran crashed successful occidental Iraq. The KC-135 craft went down adjacent Turaibil, which is on the Iraqi-Jordanian border, an Iraqi quality root told CBS News.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised them arsenic American heroes.

Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, president of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the unit was connected a combat ngo but flying implicit affable territory erstwhile the clang happened. The incidental is nether investigation, the Department of Defense said.

Tucker Reals contributed to this report.

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