THE WAY TODAY. THE REMAINS OF THREE OHIO AIRMEN KILLED IN AN AIR REFUELING, MISSING OUR MISSION OVER IRAQ ARE BACK ON AMERICAN SOIL. THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US HERE AT 4:00. I’M SHEREE PAOLELLO TODAY, THERE WAS A DIGNIFIED TRANSFER AT DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, AND OUR WLWT NEWS ANCHOR CHRIS JACOBS JOINING US NOW WITH THIS BITTERSWEET HOMECOMING. AND PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS CALLED THIS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF THE JOB. BUT PRESIDENT TRUMP PAYING HIS RESPECTS THIS AFTERNOON AT DOVER AIR FORCE BASE IN DELAWARE, THE REMAINS OF SIX U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS WERE RETURNED TO THEIR FAMILIES, INCLUDING THREE OHIO NATIONAL GUARD AIRMEN. THEY INCLUDE CAPTAIN COURTIS ANGST OF WILMINGTON, CAPTAIN SETH KOVAL OF INDIANA AND TECH SERGEANT TYLER SIMMONS OF COLUMBUS. THE PRESIDENT WAS JOINED BY DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH, HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON, SENATORS JON HUSTED AND BERNIE MORENO, AND GOVERNOR DEWINE. NOW, CAMERAS WERE NOT THERE FOR THAT DIGNIFIED TRANSFER. ALL SIX CREW MEMBERS OF A KC 135 AIR FORCE REFUELING AIRCRAFT WERE KILLED LAST WEEK IN A PLANE CRASH OVER FRIENDLY SKIES IN WESTERN IRAQ. NOW, WE DID SPEAK WITH THE FAMILY OF COURTIS ANGST. THEY SAY HE DIED DOING WHAT HE LOVED MOST FLYING AND SERVING ALONGSIDE THE PEOPLE HE CARED ABOUT. U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND DID SAY THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CRASH ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION, BUT THE LOSS OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT DUE
Three Ohio airmen killed in crash over Iraq to be returned to Columbus
Updated: 4:15 PM EDT Mar 27, 2026
Three Ohio airmen who were killed in a refueling crash over Iraq earlier this month will be returned to Columbus this weekend.The Ohio Air National Guard members have been 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.They were among six crew members of a KC-135 Air Force refueling aircraft who were killed in the crash. U.S. Central Command said the circumstances of the crash are under investigation but that the loss of the aircraft was “not due to hostile or friendly fire.”The bodies of the three men killed will be coming to Columbus’ Rickenbacker Airport on Sunday afternoon.The families of the victims have requested motorcycle escorts. More information on how the public can pay their respects will be released soon.Last week, the remains of the three Ohio airmen were returned to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, as President Donald Trump attended the dignified transfer.
COLUMBUS, Ohio —
Three Ohio airmen who were killed in a refueling crash over Iraq earlier this month will be returned to Columbus this weekend.
The Ohio Air National Guard members have been 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.
They were among six crew members of a KC-135 Air Force refueling aircraft who were killed in the crash. U.S. Central Command said the circumstances of the crash are under investigation but that the loss of the aircraft was “not due to hostile or friendly fire.”
The bodies of the three men killed will be coming to Columbus’ Rickenbacker Airport on Sunday afternoon.
The families of the victims have requested motorcycle escorts. More information on how the public can pay their respects will be released soon.
Last week, the remains of the three Ohio airmen were returned to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, as President Donald Trump attended the dignified transfer.