Baghdad, Iraq: A Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker operated by the United States Air Force crashed in western Iraq on March 12, 2026, killing all six service members on board during a mission supporting U.S. military operations connected to the Iran conflict, officials confirmed.
The aircraft went down in “friendly airspace” while conducting an aerial refueling mission as part of operations overseen by United States Central Command. Authorities said the circumstances of the crash remain under investigation, but early assessments ruled out both hostile fire and friendly fire.
The crash occurred on Thursday, March 12, 2026, during operations supporting the U.S. campaign against Iran. The tanker was flying a mission over western Iraq when an incident occurred involving two KC-135 aircraft, according to military officials.
Two Stratotanker refueling aircraft were operating in the same mission. During the flight, an incident believed to be a mid-air collision occurred. One aircraft crashed, while the other suffered significant structural damage but managed to land safely at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.
Flight-tracking data also showed that the surviving aircraft declared an emergency before landing in Israel.
The crash site was reported near Turaibil, close to the Iraqi-Jordanian border.
In a statement confirming the tragedy, U.S. Central Command said, “The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.” Senior U.S. defense officials also acknowledged the risks involved in combat operations.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said, “War is hell, war is chaos… bad things can happen.” Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, added: “Please keep these brave airmen, their families, friends and units in your thoughts.”
He noted that the aircraft had been on a combat mission but flying over friendly territory when the crash occurred.
The day after the crash, U.S. Central Command confirmed that all six crew members on board had died.
Search and recovery operations were conducted to secure the crash site and recover personnel and equipment. Such operations are commonly known as Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP) missions.
On March 14, 2026, the Pentagon publicly released the names, ages and hometowns of the six service members killed in the crash.
The victims were:
Three of the airmen Klinner, Savino and Pruitt were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, while the other three Koval, Angst and Simmons served with the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Ohio.
The KC-135 aircraft involved were part of operations supporting the U.S. military campaign against Iran that began on February 28, 2026.
The crash marked the fourth publicly acknowledged U.S. aircraft loss linked to the conflict, bringing the total number of American service members killed since the start of the campaign to 13.
The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is a long-serving aerial refueling aircraft used by the U.S. Air Force to extend the range and endurance of combat aircraft by transferring fuel mid-air. Introduced in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the aircraft remains a critical component of U.S. global air operations.
Military investigators are now examining flight data, operational procedures and possible mechanical factors to determine the exact cause of the crash. Officials have stressed that the investigation remains ongoing and further details will be released as the inquiry progresses.
