The six U.S. service members who died in the military plane crash in Iraq this week have now been identified by the Pentagon.
The six airmen are Maj. John A. Klinner, 33; Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31; Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34; Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38; Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28. They hail from states including Alabama, Washington, Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio.
Klinner, Savino, and Pruitt were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. Koval, Angst, and Simmons were assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio.
The War Department said they were all part of “Operation Epic Fury,” the U.S. military mission in Iran.
The crash, which occurred on Thursday, involved a KC-135 refueling aircraft that went down while flying over friendly airspace in western Iraq. All six were aboard the aircraft at the time of the crash.
U.S. Central Command previously determined the crash was not caused by “hostile fire or friendly fire,” though it is under investigation.
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The War Department confirmed on Saturday night that the investigation remains ongoing.
The airmen’s deaths brought the U.S. death toll from the Iran war to 13, while hundreds of other troops have been injured.
