A Washington state airman was among six US Air Force members killed in a military aircraft crash in western Iraq, according to the Pentagon.
Capt. Ariana Savino, 31, of Covington, was one of the crew members aboard a KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft that crashed Thursday, March 12, while operating over western Iraq, the Department of Defense announced Saturday.
Five other airmen were also killed in the crash:
- Maj. John Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Alabama
- Tech. Sgt. Ashley Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky
- Capt. Seth Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Indiana
- Capt. Curtis Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio
- Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio
Savino, Klinner, and Pruitt were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. Koval, Angst, and Simmons were assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio, according to the Pentagon.
The US military said the aircraft involved was a KC-135 Stratotanker, a large refueling plane used to supply fuel to other aircraft in midair so they can remain in combat zones for extended periods. Officials said the crash was not caused by hostile fire or friendly fire.
Military officials also said two aircraft were involved in the incident over western Iraq during operations tied to Operation Epic Fury, the Pentagon’s name for the ongoing conflict with Iran. The second aircraft landed safely, according to the Pentagon.
The Air Force has not released details about the mission the aircraft were performing at the time of the crash. An investigation into the cause of the incident is ongoing, according to the Pentagon.
The deaths bring the number of US service members killed in connection with the war with Iran to 13.
Six US Army Reserve soldiers were killed in an attack on Kuwait’s Shuaiba Port on March 1. Another service member died last week after suffering injuries during an attack in Saudi Arabia earlier this month, according to the Pentagon.
Additional details about Savino’s life were not immediately available. Loved ones are invited to share a statement, funeral details, and/or photos by emailing michael@pugetpress.com.
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