Six US Air Force members killed in plane crash identified

The six US crew members killed when a refuelling aircraft went down in western Iraq last week have been identified.

The deceased have been identified as John Klinner, 33, Ariana Savino, 31, Ashley Pruitt, 34, Seth Koval, 38, Curtis Angst, 30 and Tyler Simmons, 28.

The crew were onboard the KC-135 refuelling aircraft when it crashed while flying over friendly airspace on Thursday, March 12.

Another aircraft was also involved in the incident but landed safely.

The US Department of War says it is still investigating the crash.

Central Command had previously said the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.

However Iranian army’s Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters claimed Iraq was responsible for downing the aircraft.

“One of the US refuelling aircraft has been hit by Iraqi Resistance’s air defense systems in western Iraq and crashed,” a spokesperson said, according to semi-official news agency Tasnim.

Left to right: John Klinner, 33, Tyler Simmons, 28, Ashley Pruitt, 34, Seth Koval, 38, Curtis Angst, 30, Ariana Savino, 31.Left to right: John Klinner, 33, Tyler Simmons, 28, Ashley Pruitt, 34, Seth Koval, 38, Curtis Angst, 30, Ariana Savino, 31. Credit: MacDill Air Force Base/Ohio National Guard via CNN The refueling plane crashed in western Iraq last week.The refueling plane crashed in western Iraq last week. Credit: AP