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Military Mother Among Six U.S. Service Members Killed in Iraq Plane Crash
A devastating military aircraft crash in western Iraq has claimed the lives of six U.S. service members, including a mother of two young children. The KC-135 refueling plane went down Thursday while supporting operations against Iran, according to U.S. Central Command.
Tech Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, from Bardstown, Kentucky, was described by her husband Gregory as “radiant” and deeply proud of her nine-year military career. “If there was a light in the room, she was it,” he said, struggling to maintain composure during a phone interview Sunday. Pruitt leaves behind a 3-year-old daughter and a stepson.
Pruitt served with the 99th Air Refueling Squadron from Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base in Birmingham, Alabama, as an assistant flight chief of operations and instructor. With nearly 900 combat flight hours logged over three previous overseas deployments, she was highly experienced in operating the boom of the KC-135 refueling system.
The crash occurred in what military officials described as “friendly airspace.” An unspecified incident involving another aircraft reportedly took place just before the KC-135 went down, though the second plane landed safely. The cause remains under investigation.
Three of the victims were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, and Sumpter Smith, while the other three came from an Ohio Air National Guard base in Columbus.
“To lose a member of the Air Force family is excruciatingly painful, especially to those who know them as son, daughter, brother, sister, spouse, mom, or dad,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Ed Szczepanik, commander of the 6th Air Refueling Wing. “To lose them at the same time is unimaginable.”
Among the fallen was Maj. John A. “Alex” Klinner, 33, an Auburn University graduate and pilot who had just been promoted to major in January. The eight-year Air Force veteran from Birmingham, Alabama, was deployed less than a week when the tragedy occurred. He leaves behind 7-month-old twins and a 2-year-old son.
Klinner served as chief of squadron standards and evaluations at the Birmingham air base. His wife Libby expressed heartbreak that their children “won’t get to see firsthand the way he would jump up to help in any way he could” or “witness his selflessness.”
Also killed was Tech Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28, a boom operator with the Ohio Air National Guard’s 166th Air Refueling Squadron. His family described him as someone whose “smile could light up any room.” Simmons, a Columbus resident, had served since 2017 and accumulated 230 combat hours across three deployments.
Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, from Covington, Washington, was a pilot and chief of current operations for the 99th Air Refueling Squadron. A product of the Air Force ROTC program at Central Washington University, she earned her commission in 2017 and had logged more than 300 combat hours before her promotion to captain in 2021.
The crash also claimed Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, an instructor pilot with 19 years of service and more than 2,000 flight hours, including 443 in combat. The Stoutsville, Ohio resident was an aircraft commander with the 121st Air Refueling Wing and held a bachelor’s degree in aviation operations from Purdue University.
Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, a KC-135R pilot with the 166th Air Refueling Squadron from Columbus, had served for a decade after earning a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Cincinnati. Promoted to captain last November, he had accumulated 880 flight hours, including 67 combat hours.
The KC-135 aircraft involved in the crash plays a critical role in extending the operational range of other military aircraft through mid-air refueling. According to the Congressional Research Service, the Air Force maintains a fleet of 376 KC-135s across active duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve units. The platform has been in service for more than six decades and can also transport wounded personnel and conduct surveillance missions.
The loss of these service members represents a significant blow to their units and the broader military community as the investigation into the circumstances of the crash continues.
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5 Comments
It’s heartbreaking to see the human toll of these overseas military operations, especially on the families left behind. Tech Sgt. Pruitt’s story is a sobering reminder of the sacrifices our service members and their loved ones make for our country.
Tech Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt seems like an incredible individual – a dedicated military professional and loving mother. Stories like hers remind us of the immense personal costs of war, even in supposedly ‘friendly’ airspace. May she rest in peace.
While the details of this tragedy are still emerging, I hope the investigation provides some clarity and that the families find solace in knowing their loved ones died in service of our nation. My deepest condolences to all affected.
This is a tragic loss for the U.S. Armed Forces. I’m curious to learn more about the circumstances surrounding the crash and whether any measures can be taken to improve safety and prevent similar incidents in the future. My condolences to all affected.
My heart goes out to the families of these brave service members who made the ultimate sacrifice. I hope their loved ones find some solace in honoring their memory and the vital role they played in our nation’s defense.