Arabic version: تحديد هوية الطاقم الذين لقوا حتفهم في حادث تحطم طائرة التزود بالوقود في العراق

The US military has confirmed the identities of six crew members who tragically lost their lives in a refuelling aircraft crash in Iraq. The Pentagon disclosed that the airmen aboard the KC-135 plane included John Klinner, 33, from Alabama; Ariana Savino, 31, from Washington; Ashley Pruitt, 34, from Kentucky; Seth Koval, 38, from Indiana; Curtis Angst, 30, from Ohio; and Tyler Simmons, 28, also from Ohio. The first three were Air Force personnel, while the latter three served in the National Guard.

According to BBC News, the US military previously stated that neither hostile nor friendly fire was involved in the incident, which occurred during a combat mission as part of ongoing US operations against Iran. A second plane involved in the mission managed to land safely.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised the crew members, referring to them as “American heroes.” While US officials suggested the incident may have involved a midair collision, investigations are ongoing. The crash was reported to have occurred over friendly airspace, near Turaibil, along the Iraqi-Jordanian border.

This incident marks a significant loss for the US military, bringing the official death toll in the US-Israel war with Iran, which began a fortnight ago, to 13. Recently, six additional soldiers were reported killed in Kuwait, and one in Saudi Arabia. The conflict, which began with strikes on Iran on February 28, has already seen the US military lose at least four aircraft. Earlier this month, three F-15 fighter jets were downed in what was described as an apparent friendly fire incident over Kuwait, although all crew members were able to eject safely.