TAMPA, FL — Three airmen assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa were among the six service members killed in the March 12 crash of a KC-135 Stratotanker in western Iraq as part of the U.S. military’s attacks on the country.

Maj. John A. Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Alabama; Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington; and Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky, all assigned to 99th Air Refueling Squadron, part of the 6th Air Refueling Wing, at MacDill, were confirmed dead in the crash, according to a news release from the Air Force base.

The other three service members killed in the crash were Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Indiana; Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio, a U.S. Department of War news release said. They were assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus.

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U.S. Central Command, which oversees the Middle East, said the crash in western Iraq on Thursday followed an unspecified incident involving two aircraft in “friendly airspace” and that the other plane landed safely. The crash is under investigation.

The MacDill community is mourning the loss of its three airmen killed in the crash.

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“Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of Alex, Ariana and Ashley” U.S. Air Force Col. Ed Szczepanik, 6th Air Refueling Wing Commander, said. “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. To lose them at the same time is unimaginable. Our hearts and minds are with the family, friends and loved ones of our fallen airmen.”

The colonel added, “Our communities feel this loss deeply and Team MacDill will ensure their sacrifices and service to our nation are never forgotten. We will honor them each and every day as we continue to answer our nation’s call.”

Klinner was the chief of squadron standardizations and valuations at the 99th Air Refueling Squadron.

He directed the unit’s standardization and evaluation program, overseeing 34 aircrew, MacDill said. He supported global air refueling operations, and integrated guard, reserve, and active duty support to Air Mobility Command.

Klinner entered the Air Force in 2017 through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps from Auburn University. He completed pilot training in November 2018 and advanced instrument training and instructor pilot upgrade in 2022, followed by evaluator pilot upgrade in 2024 while assigned to the 99th Air Refueling Squadron.

He deployed in 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2026 in support of operations Inherent Resolve, Atlas Guardian, Southern Spear and Epic Fury, flying 362 combat hours and 181 combat support hours.

Savino, the chief of current operations pilot for the 99th Air Refueling Squadron, was responsible for the unit’s $21 million flying hour program, coordinating headquarters’ taskings, managing daily flight scheduling, aircrew training missions and resource allocation to ensure mission execution, MacDill said.

She earned her active duty commission in 2017 through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps from Central Washington University. In 2020, she graduated from training as a combat systems officer and earned her wings in 2025 before becoming a KC-135 pilot.

Savino in 2020 and 2026 in support of operations Spartan Shield, Sentinel Sentry and Epic Fury, flying 348 combat hours in both the E8-C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System as a combat systems operator and the KC-135 Stratotanker as a pilot.

Pruitt was an assistant flight chief of operations and KC-135 instructor boom operator at the 99th Air Refueling Squadron. In her role, she oversaw aircrew readiness, training, and flight operations while instructing boom operators on air refueling procedures, MacDill said.

She entered the Air Force in May 2017 and completed career enlisted aviator training in February 2018 followed by the initial boom operator course in July 2021. Since then, she held a variety of aircrew leadership positions related to air refueling operations.

Prior to her most recent position, Pruitt was the non-commissioned officer in charge of readiness at the 99th Air Refueling Squadron. She deployed in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2026 in support of the following operations Inherent Resolve, Freedom’s Sentinel, Enduring Sentinel, Resolute Support and Epic Fury, flying 888 combat flight hours.

The 99th Air Refueling Squadron is a geographically separated unit stationed at Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base in Birmingham, Alabama, but functions administratively under the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill, the Air Force base’s news release said.

This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.

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