US names six crew killed in refuelling plane crash in Iraq

The aircraft was on a combat mission as part of ongoing US operations against Iran when it crashed in western Iraq on Thursday.

A U.S. KC-135 refueling tanker aircraft crashed on Thursday in western Iraq, killing all six crew members onboard, as confirmed by U.S. Central Command. The crash, which involved a mid-air collision with another aircraft in friendly airspace, contributes to the rising U.S. death toll—now totaling 13—since the conflict with Iran began nearly two weeks ago under President Trump. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed the incident in a news conference, referring to the victims as 'American heroes' and acknowledging the inherent dangers of military operations. The war continues to intensify, with speculation about the condition of Iran's new supreme leader hinted by Hegseth.

Six U.S. service members, including Tech Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, a mother from Kentucky, died when a KC-135 refueling plane crashed in western Iraq during operations against Iran. The incident is under investigation.

A recent U.S. military aircraft crash in Iraq claimed the lives of six service members, including Maj. Alex Klinner, a 33-year-old Alabama father of three young children. Klinner had been promoted in January and had just been deployed less than a week before the crash. Also killed were Capt. Ariana Savino and Tech. Sgt. Ashley Pruitt, both from the 6th Air Refueling Wing stationed in Birmingham, and three members of the 121st Air Refueling Wing from Ohio: Capt. Seth Koval, Capt. Curtis Angst, and Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons. The incident occurred in 'friendly' airspace during a mission supporting operations against Iran and is under investigation. The KC-135 refueling plane they were aboard plays a critical role in extending mission range and capability for the Air Force, with 376 in service. Families and colleagues mourned the loss of the highly regarded crew members, remembering their professionalism, kindness, and devotion to duty and family.

A U.S. military KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, killing all six crew members on board, the U.S. Central Command confirmed. The crash occurred during Operation Epic Fury, a campaign against Iran, bringing the total U.S. fatalities in the operation to 13. The incident involved two KC-135 aircraft, but the second plane landed safely, reportedly in Israel. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, though officials have ruled out hostile or friendly fire. Three of the deceased were from Ohio, serving with the 121st Air Refueling Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard. The KC-135, in service since the 1960s, is a midair refueling aircraft facing scrutiny over reliability due to its age and past accidents. Concerns also remain about the lack of parachutes aboard many KC-135s. The aircraft, which has a typically small crew, may have had additional personnel on board as backups for extended missions. It is the fourth publicly confirmed U.S. aircraft loss in the conflict since war began on February 28. Defense officials honored the fallen crew, emphasizing the chaos of war and their heroism.