The U.S. military identified all six of the service members killed last week in a KC-135 aircraft crash in western Iraq.
Of the six members of the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve, three casualties were from the Birmingham area and were with the 99th Air Refueling Squadron from Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base in Birmingham.
Maj. John A. “Alex” Klinner’s family identified him early Saturday. The U.S. Air Force veteran and Auburn University graduate, 33, was the chief of squadron standards and evaluations at the air base. Klinner left behind his wife, Libby, and their three young children.
Tech Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, was an assistant flight chief of operations. Pruitt received two associate's degrees from the Community College of the Air Force and had over 900 combat flight hours. Pruitt left behind her husband, Gregory, the couple’s young daughter and her stepson.
Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, was the chief of current operations. She served at bases in Georgia and Mississippi and had 362 combat hours and 181 combat support hours. Savino was a graduate of Central Washington University and had been awarded the Air Medal and Air Space Commendation Medal.
The other three casualties were from the Ohio National Guard. They were Tech Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28; Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38; and Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30.
The KC-135 was involved in an incident with another aircraft when it crashed. The other plane landed safely.
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