LAFAYETTE, IN \u2014 An Indiana native and Purdue University graduate was among those killed when a military plane crashed in Iraq last week.<\/p>\n
Seth R. Koval, a 38-year-old pilot from Mooresville, graduated from Purdue in 2011 with a bachelor\u2019s degree in aviation operations, the Department of War said in a statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n He had a wife and son.<\/p>\n Koval and five others were killed on Thursday when their refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq, U.S. Central Command said<\/a>. They were supporting another plane as part of the U.S. war on Iran.<\/p>\n \u201cSeth was a man whose life I could never confine to a single statement and whose loss will echo in my heart forever,\u201d Koval\u2019s wife, Nichole, said in a written statement. \u201cSeth was exceptional in everything he did. He was truly the most amazing husband, father, son, brother, friend, and Airman.\u201d<\/p>\n Koval enlisted in the Air Force in 2006 as part of the Indiana National Guard, according to his DoW biography<\/a>. After graduating from Purdue, he transferred to the Ohio Air National Guard in 2017.<\/p>\n He flew more than 440 combat hours and 2,076 total hours, the DoW said, deploying in 2014, 2020, 2022, 2023 and this year in Iraq.<\/p>\n \u201cHe loved what he did, and he was proud to put his uniform on and serve others,\u201d Nichole said. \u201cHe grew up dreaming about becoming a pilot, and to stand beside him as he made his dreams come true was an honor.\u201d<\/p>\n The crash that killed Koval and five other service members brings the American death toll in the war against Iran to at least 13, the Associated Press reported.<\/a><\/p>\n The cause of the crash isn\u2019t yet known but was \u201cnot due to hostile or friendly fire,\u201d U.S. Central Command said. The other plane involved reportedly landed safely in Israel.<\/p>\n Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita called Koval a \u201ctrue hero\u201d in a Facebook post on Sunday morning, saying the state will \u201cnever forget your sacrifice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThoughts and prayers to his wife, young son, and entire family as they grieve this unimaginable loss,\u201d Rokita wrote.<\/p>\n Koval\u2019s family is asking for donations through a GoFundMe<\/a>\u00a0created Saturday evening.<\/p>\n