MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – Gov. Kay Ivey has ordered flags across the state to be flown at half-staff to honor the U.S. service members who were killed when a refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq in March.
Maj. John “Alex” Klinner, Capt. Ariana Savino, and Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt served with the 99th Air Refueling Squadron at Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base in Birmingham.
The three were aboard a KC-135 Stratotanker that crashed in western Iraq on March 12 while supporting operations against Iran.
The governor has ordered flags to remain at half-staff until sunset on March 30, the day a funeral service is expected to be held for Major John A. Klinner.
Not reading this story on the WSFA News App? Get news alerts FASTER and FREE in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store!
Copyright 2026 WSFA. All rights reserved.