The United States Department of Defense has identified the six airmen killed when an aerial refueling tanker crashed over western Iraq during a combat mission supporting operations against Iran. The aircraft went down in friendly airspace after an unspecified incident involving another plane, which landed safely. Officials said the crash was not caused by hostile or friendly fire and remains under investigation.

Three of the airmen were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida: Major John A. Klinner, Captain Ariana G. Savino and Technical Sergeant Ashley B. Pruitt. The other three served with the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Ohio: Captain Seth R. Koval, Captain Curtis J. Angst and Technical Sergeant Tyler H. Simmons.

Major Klinner, recently promoted and deployed for less than a week, leaves behind a wife and three young children. Family members and colleagues described the fallen service members as dedicated professionals and devoted loved ones. The tanker aircraft, a mainstay of the United States military fleet for more than six decades, plays a critical role in extending the range and endurance of combat and support aircraft.