BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – The Air Force has posthumously promoted one of the airmen who died in the KC-135 refueling crash in Iraq on March 12.
Capt. Ariana Savino was promoted to Major, effective Jan. 23. She was assigned to the 99thAir Refueling squadron which is co-located with the 117thAir Refueling Wing in Birmingham.
“Ariana was a trailblazer who pursued every goal with unwavering determination. In 2025, she returned to training and earned her wings as a KC-135 pilot at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. She deployed twice and supported three separate operations during her time as both a Combat Systems Officer and a KC-135 pilot. Ariana was known as a fervent role model with a “ruthless commitment” to the next generation,” the 117th Air Refueling Wing shared on Facebook.
She commissioned into the United States Air Force in 2017 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Central Washington University, Washington. She completed training as a Combat Systems Officer in 2020, and later served at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia.
Along with Savino, five other pilots were killed in the crash. Two of them, Tech Sgt. Ashley Bardstown and Maj. Alex Klinner, also have ties to Alabama.
Left to Right: Captain Ariana G. Savino, Major John “Alex” Klinner, Technical Sargent Ashley B. Pruitt(117th Air Refueling WIng)
President Donald Trump along with Senators Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville paid their respects Wednesday to the airmen as their flag draped coffins arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
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