UP IN YOUR FULL FORECAST. ALL RIGHT. THANKS, JORDAN. AND BREAKING TONIGHT WE’VE LEARNED THAT THREE OF THE SIX AIRMEN KILLED IN THAT REFUELING MISSION IN WESTERN IRAQ HAVE TIES TO ALABAMA. EARLIER, WE REPORTED THAT MAJOR JOHN ALEX KLINGER, WHO LIVED IN TRUSSVILLE WITH HIS WIFE AND THREE CHILDREN, WAS AMONG THE DEAD. AND WE HAVE SINCE LEARNED TWO OTHERS SPENT TIME HERE. WVTM 13 JARVIS ROBERTSON IS CLOSELY FOLLOWING THIS STORY FOR US. AND JARVIS, WHAT IS THE LATEST? WELL, CARLA, WITHIN THE LAST HOUR, WE’VE LEARNED FROM THE 117TH AIR REFUELING WING. THE THREE MEMBERS WERE PART OF THE CO-LOCATED 99TH AIR REFUELING SQUADRON, WHICH IS LOCATED AT SUMPTER SMITH JOINT NATIONAL GUARD BASE RIGHT HERE IN BIRMINGHAM. NOW, MAJOR JOHN ALEX KLINGER OF TRUSSVILLE, SERGEANT ASHLEY PRUITT FROM KENTUCKY, AND CAPTAIN ARIANA SAVINO OF COVINGTON, WASHINGTON. TRUSSVILLE MYA TRUSSVILLE MYA BEN SHORT, AUBURN UNIVERSITY, AND SENATOR KATIE BRITT HAVE ALL RESPONDED TO THIS TRAGIC INCIDENT. NOW, AGAIN, THIS IS A JOINT BASE RIGHT HERE IN BIRMINGHAM HOUSING THE 1/17 REFUELING WING AND THE 99TH AIR REFUELING SQUADRON NEAR THE BIRMINGHAM AIRPORT. SENATOR TOMMY TUBERVILLE ALSO RESPONDED AFTER LEARNING ABOUT MAJOR CLANTON, SAYING ON FACEBOOK OUR STATE DEEPLY GRIEVES THE LOSS OF A FATHER, HUSBAND AND TRUE PATRIOT ASKING FOR ALL ALABAMIANS TO PRAY FOR THE FAMILY. NOW YOU CAN READ OUR FULL COVERAGE ON THE DEATH OF ALL THESE
Three Birmingham airmen killed in Iraq refueling plane crash
Updated: 10:13 PM CDT Mar 14, 2026
Two more airmen from Alabama have been confirmed dead after an aircraft they were in crashed in the Middle East.Leaders with the 117th Air Refueling Wing in Birmingham, Alabama, said Saturday night that three active-duty airmen based out of the 99th Air Refueling Squadron — which shares facilities with the 117th but whose active-duty components are administratively governed by MacDill Air Force Base in Florida — died when the plane they were in crashed during Operation Epic Fury in western Iraq.The 117th said Maj. John Alex Klinner, TSgt. Ashley Pruitt and Capt. Ariana Savino, alongside three airmen from the Ohio Air National Guard who also died, were aboard the KC-135 Stratotanker when it crashed.Klinner, 33, a Trussville, Alabama, resident, had just been promoted to his current rank in January and had been deployed for less than a week before the crash.The aircraft was in “friendly” airspace, supporting operations against Iran, when an unspecified incident involving another aircraft occurred, according to U.S. Central Command. The other plane landed safely, U.S. military officials said.Col. Mike Adams, commander of the 117th, said in a statement:”Alex, Ashley and Ariana are and always will be members of the 117th family. Even though they were not members of the Air National Guard, to us they will always be remembered as Vulcan refuelers and Alabamians.”The 117th said the circumstances of the incident are under investigation, but it has established a family assistance center to support those affected by the loss; counseling services and chaplains are also available.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —
Two more airmen from Alabama have been confirmed dead after an aircraft they were in crashed in the Middle East.
Leaders with the 117th Air Refueling Wing in Birmingham, Alabama, said Saturday night that three active-duty airmen based out of the 99th Air Refueling Squadron — which shares facilities with the 117th but whose active-duty components are administratively governed by MacDill Air Force Base in Florida — died when the plane they were in crashed during Operation Epic Fury in western Iraq.
The 117th said Maj. John Alex Klinner, TSgt. Ashley Pruitt and Capt. Ariana Savino, alongside three airmen from the Ohio Air National Guard who also died, were aboard the KC-135 Stratotanker when it crashed.
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Alabama airmen killed in Iraq plane accident
Klinner, 33, a Trussville, Alabama, resident, had just been promoted to his current rank in January and had been deployed for less than a week before the crash.
The aircraft was in “friendly” airspace, supporting operations against Iran, when an unspecified incident involving another aircraft occurred, according to U.S. Central Command. The other plane landed safely, U.S. military officials said.
Col. Mike Adams, commander of the 117th, said in a statement:
“Alex, Ashley and Ariana are and always will be members of the 117th family. Even though they were not members of the Air National Guard, to us they will always be remembered as Vulcan refuelers and Alabamians.”
The 117th said the circumstances of the incident are under investigation, but it has established a family assistance center to support those affected by the loss; counseling services and chaplains are also available.