CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY. WE’LL HAVE MORE ON THAT COMING UP AT 11. WELL, NEW DETAILS ABOUT THE SIX CREW MEMBERS WHO DIED IN YESTERDAY’S MILITARY PLANE CRASH. GOVERNOR DEWINE REVEALING THREE WERE FROM OHIO, INCLUDING ONE WHO WAS FROM COLUMBUS. THE GOVERNOR PUTTING OUT A STATEMENT THAT READS IN PART, QUOTE, I HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY OHIO’S ADJUTANT GENERAL THAT THREE OF THE SIX SERVICE MEMBERS KILLED WERE OHIOANS DEPLOYED WITH THE OHIO AIR NATIONAL GUARD’S 121ST AIR REFUELING WING. WE’LL HAVE MORE ON THE SOLDIER FROM COLUMBUS COMING UP ON WLWT NEWS FIVE AT 11. WELL, THE PENTAGON IN THIS STORY ALSO STILL INVESTIGATING WHAT CAUSED THIS. KC 135 PLANE TO CRASH. OFFICIALS SAYING IT WAS NOT CAUSED BY HOSTILE OR FRIENDLY FIRE. THE PENTAGON SAYS IT’S IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE FAMILIES, BUT WE NOW KNOW ABOUT 2500 MARINES AND 2500 SAILORS WILL DEPLOY TO THE MIDDLE EAST. THE GROUP BEING SENT THERE SPECIALIZES IN CRISIS RESPONSE, SUCH AS EVACUATIONS FROM
Pentagon identifies 6 airmen, including 3 members of Ohio Air National Guard, killed in crash over Iraq
Updated: 11:11 PM EDT Mar 14, 2026
The Pentagon has identified the six airmen who were killed as part of a crash that happened over Iraq during Operation Epic Fury on Thursday.Three of those who were killed were serving in the Ohio Air National Guard’s 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus.The deceased members of the Ohio Air National Guard were identified as 38-year-old Capt. Seth R. Koval of Mooresville, Indiana, 30-year-old Capt. Curtis J. Angst of Wilmington, Ohio, and 28-year-old Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons of Columbus, Ohio.Additionally, three airmen of the 6th Air Refueling Wing that were based out of the MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa Bay, Florida, were also killed.They have been identified as 33-year-old Maj. John A. Klinner of Auburn, Alabama, 31-year-old Capt. Ariana G. Savino of Covington, Washington, and 34-year-old Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt of Bardstown, Kentucky.Pruitt’s death marks the second Kentuckian to be killed as part of the U.S.-Iran war, after 26-year-old Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington of Glendale was killed in a strike on the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on March 1.U.S. Central Command has previously said that the crash was not caused by either hostile or friendly fire, but did not elaborate further. Two planes were reportedly involved during the incident, with the plane carrying the six identified airmen the only one of the two to have crashed.The Pentagon says that the crash remains under investigation.On Saturday, Gov. Mike DeWine ordered flags across Ohio to be flown at half-staff until the funerals of the three airmen are held.The casualties bring the U.S. death toll to 13 as part of Operation Epic Fury, which is now stretching into its third week.
The Pentagon has identified the six airmen who were killed as part of a crash that happened over Iraq during Operation Epic Fury on Thursday.
Three of those who were killed were serving in the Ohio Air National Guard’s 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus.
The deceased members of the Ohio Air National Guard were identified as 38-year-old Capt. Seth R. Koval of Mooresville, Indiana, 30-year-old Capt. Curtis J. Angst of Wilmington, Ohio, and 28-year-old Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons of Columbus, Ohio.
Additionally, three airmen of the 6th Air Refueling Wing that were based out of the MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa Bay, Florida, were also killed.
They have been identified as 33-year-old Maj. John A. Klinner of Auburn, Alabama, 31-year-old Capt. Ariana G. Savino of Covington, Washington, and 34-year-old Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt of Bardstown, Kentucky.
Pruitt’s death marks the second Kentuckian to be killed as part of the U.S.-Iran war, after 26-year-old Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington of Glendale was killed in a strike on the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on March 1.
U.S. Central Command has previously said that the crash was not caused by either hostile or friendly fire, but did not elaborate further. Two planes were reportedly involved during the incident, with the plane carrying the six identified airmen the only one of the two to have crashed.
The Pentagon says that the crash remains under investigation.
On Saturday, Gov. Mike DeWine ordered flags across Ohio to be flown at half-staff until the funerals of the three airmen are held.
The casualties bring the U.S. death toll to 13 as part of Operation Epic Fury, which is now stretching into its third week.