Two of six US service members killed in aircraft crash over Iraq identified

The Guardian US News
by Edward Helmore and agencies
March 14, 2026
3 min read

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Six US service members died in a military aircraft crash over Iraq last week.

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Two of six US service members killed in a military refueling aircraft crash over Iraq last week have been identified, including pilot Alex Klinner from Birmingham, Alabama, and personnel from Ohio's 121st Air Refueling Wing in Columbus. US Central Command said the crash followed an unspecified incident, while a second refueling tanker in the operation landed safely in Israel. The Ohio Air National Guard confirmed that three of the six victims served with its 121st Air Refueling Wing. Family members described the fallen service members as a recently promoted father and a beloved son. The military has not yet released the names of the remaining four victims or specified what incident preceded the fatal crash.

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The military is identifying victims and investigating the unspecified incident that caused the crash.

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