Three airmen that were members of a Birmingham-based refueling squadron were among six killed last week when a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in western Iraq during Operation Epic Fury, the Pentagon confirmed over the weekend.
Maj. John “Alex” Klinner, 33, of Alabama; Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington; and Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky, were all members of the 99th Air Refueling Squadron, which operates out of Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base in Birmingham, alongside the Alabama Air National Guard’s 117th Air Refueling Wing.
The crash occurred March 12 during combat operations supporting U.S. military activity against Iran. U.S. officials said the crash was not caused by hostile or friendly fire and that the cause remains under investigation.
A second aircraft involved in an in-flight incident with the tanker landed safely.
Klinner, an Alabama native, had been promoted to major and deployed for Operation Epic Fury less than a week before the crash. He had just moved his family into a new home and is survived by his wife, Libby, a two-year-old child, and seven-month-old twins.
Savino was the Chief of Current Operations Pilot at the refueling squadron in Birmingham and was responsible for the unit’s $21 million flying hour program.
Pruitt was an assistant flight chief and instructor known for mentoring younger airmen and was also raising two young children.
The other three crew members — 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 — were members of the Ohio Air National Guard’s 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus.
Leaders of the 117th Air Refueling Wing said they were “deeply heartbroken,” noting that despite their active-duty status, the three Birmingham-based airmen were considered part of the 117th family.
Governor Kay Ivey called the fallen airmen “our neighbors — our fellow Alabamians” and said their service and that of their families “will never be forgotten.”
A GoFundMe established to support Klinner’s wife and three young children has raised more than $1.3 million as of publication.
Sawyer Knowles is a capitol reporter for Yellowhammer News. You may contact him at [email protected].
