Trending Now - US Tanker Crash in Iraq Claims Four Lives, Including Military Families
WHO:
Alex Klinner, 33, a pilot from Alabama, had just been promoted to major in January 2026 and leaves behind three small children.
Tyler Simmons, a sergeant from Columbus, Ohio, was also among the deceased, confirmed by his mother, Cheryl Simmons.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine confirmed that three of the six crew members were from Ohio and deployed with the Ohio Air National Guard’s 121st Air Refueling Wing.
Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated that the crash occurred “over friendly territory in western Iraq, while the crew was on a combat mission.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth referred to the crew as "American heroes" during a news conference.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)
Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
Six crew members of a KC-135 refueling aircraft
Yechiel Leiter, Israeli ambassador to the U.S.
Yang Uk, security expert at South Korea’s Asan Institute for Policy Studies
WHAT:
The identities of the deceased service members are being revealed by families, with three confirmed from the Ohio Air National Guard’s 121st Air Refueling Wing.
The crash brings the U.S. death toll in Operation Epic Fury to at least 13 service members, with seven others killed in combat.
The crash is the fourth U.S. military aircraft publicly acknowledged to have crashed since the war against Iran began on February 28th, 2026.
The other aircraft involved in the incident was also a KC-135 tanker.
The identities of the deceased service members are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin have been notified.
All six crew members of a KC-135 refueling aircraft are dead following a crash in Iraq.
The crash occurred during operations against Iran, bringing the U.S. death toll in Operation Epic Fury to at least 13 service members.
Approximately 140 U.S. service members have been injured, including eight severely.
Four of the six crew members were confirmed deceased as rescue efforts continued.
The crash is under investigation, and it has been confirmed that it was not due to hostile or friendly fire.
WHERE:
The KC-135 that made an emergency landing in Israel was identified as being assigned to Beale Air Force Base near Marysville, California.
The crash occurred in western Iraq.
The other aircraft involved landed safely in Israel.
WHEN:
The crash occurred on March 12th, 2026, at approximately 2 p.m. ET.
The crash occurred on March 12th, 2026, at approximately 2 p.m. ET.
The crash occurred on March 12th, 2026, at approximately 2 p.m. ET.
The crash was reported on March 13th, 2026.
WHY:
The cause of the crash is currently unknown, but it is not attributed to hostile or friendly fire.
HOW:
The KC-135 aircraft involved in the crash is not equipped with parachutes, and crew members are trained to exit the aircraft on land or water.
KC-135 aircraft are not equipped with parachutes and do not have ejection seats, as confirmed by officials.
The KC-135 aircraft is used for midair refueling and has been in service for over 60 years.
The aircraft involved in the crash was part of a combat mission.
KC-135s are not equipped with parachutes or ejection seats, and crew members are trained to exit the aircraft on land or water.
(UPDATED March 15, 2026 01:22 UTC)
The tragic crash of a KC-135 aircraft on March 12, 2026, has claimed the lives of at least 13 service members involved in Operation Epic Fury, with three confirmed fatalities from the Ohio Air National Guard’s 121st Air Refueling Wing. Among the deceased are Alex Klinner, a 33-year-old pilot from Alabama who leaves behind three small children, and Tyler Simmons, a sergeant from Columbus, Ohio, as confirmed by his mother. The aircraft, which is not equipped with parachutes, requires crew members to exit on land or water, highlighting the dangers faced by those in service.
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(UPDATED March 14, 2026 17:08 UTC)
In a tragic incident, a U.S. military aircraft crashed on March 12, 2026, during a combat mission over friendly territory in western Iraq, with three of the six crew members hailing from Ohio and serving in the Ohio Air National Guard’s 121st Air Refueling Wing. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth referred to the crew as "American heroes" during a news conference, while the crash marks the fourth U.S. military aircraft acknowledged to have gone down since the war against Iran began on February 28. The identities of the deceased service members are being withheld until next of kin have been notified, and it's important to note that KC-135 aircraft do not have parachutes or ejection seats.
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(UPDATED March 14, 2026 07:14 UTC)
Tragically, all six crew members of a KC-135 refueling aircraft have died following a crash in western Iraq on March 12, 2026, during operations against Iran, raising the U.S. death toll in Operation Epic Fury to at least 13 service members. The crash, which is currently under investigation, has been confirmed not to involve hostile or friendly fire, and approximately 140 U.S. service members have been injured, with eight suffering severe injuries. The other aircraft involved in the operation landed safely in Israel, while the KC-135 has been a vital part of midair refueling missions for over 60 years, though it lacks parachutes or ejection seats for its crew.