DeWine said in a post on X that the three Ohioans were deployed with the Ohio Air National Guard’s 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Three of the six U.S. service members who died in a refueling aircraft crash Thursday in Iraq were from Ohio, according to Gov. Mike DeWine.

DeWine said in a post on X that the three Ohioans were deployed with the Ohio Air National Guard’s 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus.

U.S. Central Command, which oversees the Middle East, said the crash followed an unspecified incident involving a KC-135 refueling aircraft and another plane in “friendly airspace.” The other plane reportedly landed safely in Israel.

One of the service members from Ohio was Tyler Simmons. Columbus City Schools said he attended Eastmoor Academy High School where he played football and was part of the 2015 class.

“Fran and I are deeply saddened by this news and offer our sincere condolences to their families,” DeWine said.


Statements from officials, agencies

U.S. Sen. Jon Husted shared his condolences on X.

“These heroes paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country—putting the safety and security of their fellow Americans above themselves,” he said. “We will always remember these service members’ noble mission to protect the homeland and the sacred freedom of America.”

Rep. Joyce Beatty said she was “heartbroken” to hear about the fatalities.

“My heart is with Tyler’s family and the families of the other five servicemembers who were killed, including two other Ohioans. In Columbus and across the nation, we will always remember the sacrifice of Tyler and his fellow servicemembers,” she wrote in part.

The 121st Air Refueling Wing shared the following statement on Facebook:

“It is with a heavy heart that we share the tragic news of the passing of three Airmen from the 121st Air Refueling Wing. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and fellow Airmen who mourn their loss. On March 12, 2026, they were among the six Airmen on a KC-135 Stratotanker that went down in western Iraq while flying a combat mission in the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility. The incident occurred in friendly airspace involving two aircraft during Operation Epic Fury. We share in the sorrow of their loved ones, and we must not forget the valuable contributions these Airmen made to their country and the impact they have left on our organization. Additionally, we ask that you respect the family’s wishes and provide them with space to mourn their loved ones during this difficult time.”

Few details about the plane crash were released, but officials said it was not under fire from hostile forces at the time, and it was not an incident of “friendly fire” in which allied forces accidentally shoot at one another.

This is the fourth publicly acknowledged U.S. aircraft to crash during the war against Iran. 

In a press briefing Friday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the crew members “American heroes” but did not provide additional details about the crash. 

The six additional deaths bring the death toll from the war in Iran to 13. Seven service members were killed in a retaliatory strike in the opening hours of the U.S. operation that kicked off the war at the end of February. 

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