Officials say the aircraft went down over friendly territory; investigation underway as MacDill community mourns the loss.
TAMPA, Fla. — Three U.S. airmen assigned to MacDill Air Force Base were among six service members killed when a refueling aircraft crashed on March 12 in western Iraq during a combat mission, according to the Pentagon.
The aircraft, a KC-135 tanker, went down during “Operation Epic Fury,” officials said. The Pentagon confirmed the crash occurred over friendly territory.
“The incident occurred over friendly territory in western Iraq while the crew was on a combat mission again and was not the result, as CEO has said, was not the result of hostile or friendly fire,” said Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Col. Ed Zepanik, commander of the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill, said the unit is “devastated by the loss.”
Three of the airmen killed in the crash were assigned to MacDill’s 6th Air Refueling Wing. They were identified as Major John “Alex” Klinner and Capt. Ariana G. Savino, both pilots, and Technical Sgt. Ashley Pruit, a boom operator.
The airmen were part of the 99th Air Refueling Squadron in Birmingham, Alabama, and assigned to MacDill.
Military officials said investigations are underway to determine what caused the crash.
“Centcom and the Air Force will convene a safety board and an accident investigation board, and it’s after that that we’ll find out more,” said retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Larry Martin, a former commander of the 6th Air Mobility Wing.
Since the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran began Feb. 28, 13 U.S. service members have been killed.
Martin said refueling aircraft like the KC-135 play a crucial role in global air operations.
“But as far as air operations go around the world, they couldn’t happen without the gas that the tankers from MacDill give to receivers,” he said.
KC-135 aircraft have flown out of Tampa since 1996. Officials say there are 18 of them in the area that deploy worldwide to defend the homeland or support combat operations.
“It’s the ability the United States has that just about no one else in the world has,” Martin said.
Leaders at MacDill say the fallen airmen’s sacrifice will not be forgotten and urged the community to support military families during deployments.
“There is no great parade of our service members as they deploy. So it’s likely that if you’ve got someone in your neighborhood that you know, their loved one, their service member, may be involved. They might be deployed. They might be working harder on the base. Check on them. See how they’re doing, and make sure they have the support that this community is famous for,” Martin said.
Officials said the fallen airmen will be returned to the United States through a dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base. The exact date has not been released.
Counseling services are available to members of the MacDill community, officials said.