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Ariana G Savino |
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Covington, Washington |
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March 12, 2026 |
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Airmen died on March 12, 2026, in the crash of a KC-135 in western Iraq. |
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| From KIRO7 TV kiro7.com
03/14/26 Washington woman among six US service members killed in Iraq aircraft crash By KIRO 7 News Staff March 14, 2026 at 10:46 pm PDT One of the crew members is from Washington: 31-year-old Capt. Ariana G. Savino. She was from Covington. — The Pentagon has identified the six airmen who died in an aircraft crash in western Iraq on Thursday. One of the crew members is from Washington: 31-year-old Capt. Ariana G. Savino. She was from Covington. She was one of three who were from the 99th Air Refueling Squadron. “Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of Alex, Ariana and Ashley. To lose a member of the Air Force family is excruciatingly painful, especially to those who know them as son, daughter, brother, sister, spouse, mom, or dad. To lose them at the same time is unimaginable. Our hearts and minds are with the family, friends and loved ones of our fallen Airmen,” shared Col Ed Szczepanik, 6th Air Refueling Wing Commander. “Our communities feel this loss deeply and Team MacDill will ensure their sacrifices and service to our nation are never forgotten. We will honor them each and every day as we continue to answer our nation’s call.” MacDill Air Force Base is a geographically separated unit stationed at Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base in Birmingham, Alabama, but functions administratively under the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. Who was Capt. Ariana G. Savino? According to her biography from the U.S. Air Force, she was responsible for the unit’s $21 million flying hour program, coordinating headquarters’ taskings, managing daily flight scheduling, aircrew training missions, and resource allocation to ensure mission execution. Capt. Savino earned her active duty commission in 2017 through Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps from Central Washington University. In 2020, she graduated from training as a Combat Systems Officer and then served at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia as a Standardization and Evaluation officer, Assistant Flight Commander and Flight Commander. Capt. Savino then attended undergraduate pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, earning her wings in 2025 before becoming a KC-135 pilot. She deployed in 2020 and 2026 in support of United States Central Command Operations SPARTAN SHIELD, SENTINEL SENTRY, and EPIC FURY, flying 348 combat hours in both the E8-C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System as a Combat Systems Operator and the KC-135 Stratotanker as a Pilot. Other airmen who were killed in the crash 33-year-old Maj. John Alex Klinner of Auburn, Alabama 34-year-old Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt of Bardstown, Kentucky 38-year-old Capt. Seth R. Koval of Mooresville, Indiana 30-year-old Capt. Curtis J. Angst of Wilmington, Ohio Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio The crash The Pentagon said Saturday the incident is still under investigation. The crew was aboard a US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft on Thursday above western Iraq when it crashed. The US military said that the incident was “not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.” The KC-135 allows aircraft to refuel in the sky to remain in a battle zone for longer. They can also be configured to carry cargo and medical patients. ©2026 Cox Media Group |
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| From KING 5 TV king5.com 03/14/26 Washington service member among 6 killed in US military crash in Iraq The Department of Defense said Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, was among the service members who died March 12 in Iraq. Author: Dalton Day Published: 6:45 PM PDT March 14, 2026 Updated: 10:10 PM PDT March 14, 2026 COVINGTON, Wash. — One of six U.S. Air Force service members killed in a refueling aircraft crash in Iraq this week was from Washington state. The Department of Defense said Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, was among the service members who died March 12 when a KC-135 aircraft went down in western Iraq during a combat mission supporting operations against Iran. Savino was assigned to the the 99th Air Refueling Squadron, a unit stationed at Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base in Birmingham, Alabama, which functions administratively under the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida. Also killed were Maj. John A. Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Alabama, and Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky, who were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing. "Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of Alex, Ariana and Ashley" said U.S. Air Force Col. Ed Szczepanik, 6th Air Refueling Wing Commander. "To lose a member of the Air Force family is excruciatingly painful, especially to those who know them as son, daughter, brother, sister, spouse, mom, or dad. To lose them at the same time is unimaginable. Our hearts and minds are with the family, friends and loved ones of our fallen Airmen." U.S. Senator Patty Murray, D-WA, expressed her condolences for Capt. Savino. and toward her family. “I am heartbroken to learn about the passing of Capt. Ariana G. Savino from Washington state. I am deeply grateful for her courage and sacrifice in service to our country. Our servicemembers put their lives on the line to keep our country safe—remarkable women like Capt. Savino represent the absolute best of our state and country," Sen. Murray said. Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Indiana; Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio, were assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Ohio. U.S. Central Command said the aircraft was operating in “friendly” airspace in western Iraq when an unspecified incident involving another aircraft occurred. The other plane landed safely. Military officials said the crash was not caused by hostile or friendly fire and remains under investigation. The KC-135 is a key aircraft used by the U.S. military to refuel other planes in midair, allowing them to fly longer distances and sustain operations without landing. It can also transport wounded personnel and conduct surveillance missions. According to the Congressional Research Service, the Air Force had 376 KC-135 aircraft in service last year across active-duty, National Guard and reserve units. The aircraft has been in use for more than 60 years. The Associated Press' David A. Lieb, Mark Scolforo, and Julie Walker contributed to this report. |
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| From The Seattle Times seattletimes.com 03/14/26 WA Air Force captain among 6 killed in refueling plane crash in Iraq March 14, 2026 at 7:33 pm Updated March 14, 2026 at 9:03 pm By Claire Withycombe Seattle Times staff reporter An Air Force captain from Washington was among six aviators who perished when a refueling plane crashed Thursday in western Iraq, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, was a member of the 99th Air Refueling Squadron, which is stationed at Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base in Birmingham, Ala. In a statement Saturday evening, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said she was “heartbroken” to learn of Savino’s death and expressed her condolences to Savino’s family and loved ones. “I am deeply grateful for her courage and sacrifice in service to our country,” Murray said. “Our servicemembers put their lives on the line to keep our country safe — remarkable women like Capt. Savino represent the absolute best of our state and country.” U.S. Central Command, which oversees the Middle East, said the crash followed an unspecified incident involving two aircraft in “friendly airspace” and that the other plane landed safely. Central Command reported the loss was “not due to hostile or friendly fire.” The others killed were Maj. John “Alex” Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Ala.; and Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Ky., who were also assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing; as well as Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Ind.; Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio, who were assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Ohio. The crash brings the U.S. death toll in Operation Epic Fury to at least 13 service members, with the seven others killed in combat. About 140 U.S. service members have been injured, including eight severely, the Pentagon said earlier this week. The KC-135 aircraft refuels other planes in midair, allowing them to fly longer distances and sustain operations without landing. The plane can also be used to transport wounded personnel and conduct surveillance missions, according to military experts. Based on the same design as the Boeing 707 passenger plane, the KC-135 is set to be gradually phased out as more of the next-generation KC-46A Pegasus tankers enter service. According to the Congressional Research Service, the Air Force last year had 376 KC-135s, including 151 on active duty, 163 in the Air National Guard and 62 in the Air Force Reserve. The last of the KC-135 planes were produced in the 1960s. A basic KC-135 crew consists of three people: a pilot, co-pilot and boom operator. KC-135s have been involved in several fatal accidents. The most recent occurred in May 2013, when one crashed in Kyrgyzstan while supporting the war in Afghanistan. That crash killed the three members of a crew stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base near Spokane. About 100 members of the 141st Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild have been activated to support U.S. military action in Iran. “War is hell. War is chaos,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said earlier in the week. “And as we saw yesterday with the tragic crash of our KC-135 tanker, bad things can happen. American heroes, all of them.” Savino was a chief of current operations pilot for the 99th Air Refueling Squadron, which is stationed in Alabama but functions administratively under the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida. In 2017, Savino earned her active duty commission through Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps from Central Washington University. She graduated in 2020 from training as a combat systems officer and served at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia as a standardization and evaluation officer, assistant flight commander and flight commander. She went to undergraduate pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi before becoming a KC-135 pilot. In her latest role, Savino oversaw her unit’s flying hour program. She managed daily flight scheduling, aircrew training missions and how resources were allocated. She deployed in 2020 and 2026 and flew 348 combat hours. “Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of Alex, Ariana and Ashley,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Ed Szczepanik, 6th Air Refueling Wing commander, in a statement. “To lose a member of the Air Force family is excruciatingly painful, especially to those who know them as son, daughter, brother, sister, spouse, mom, or dad. To lose them at the same time is unimaginable. Our hearts and minds are with the family, friends and loved ones of our fallen Airmen.” The crash is under investigation, the Department of Defense said. This story uses material from The Associated Press. Seattle Times staff reporters Paige Cornwell and Lauren Rosenblatt contributed to this story. Claire Withycombe |
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| From Voz Media voz.us 03/17/26 IN MEMORIAM // Ariana Savino, the Hispanic pilot who died in the line of duty in Iraq The Puerto Rican Air Force pilot died at age 31 when the KC-135 tanker she was operating crashed during a mission in Iraq. By Santiago Ospital March 17, 2026 "She was proud of her heritage," recalled a friend of Ariana Savino, a Hispanic Air Force captain killed in a plane crash in Iraq on March 12. "The last message she sent me a few days ago was 'WEPAAAA,'" he added, alluding to a celebratory expression typical of the Latino community. "Fly high, my friend." Savino, 31, was one of six Americans killed in a crash during a mission in support of the joint U.S.-Israeli offensive against Iran. Central Command, which coordinates military activities in the region, reported that its KC-135 tanker plane crashed in western Iraq. The incident involved another aircraft, which did manage to land without major losses. Friends and family describe her as a brave and passionate woman, and emphasize her pride in being Latina: "She was very, very proud of being Puerto Rican. She talked about her family and her heritage and traditions a lot," said Kierstyn Peterson, who met Savino at Kentwood High School in Covington, Wash. The two did the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) junior program together. In words to Komo News, she added that, "most definitely," she was a person who left an impression: "She will leave footsteps on your heart, that's for sure." "She really loved her friends. She loved her school. She loved everybody that she was ever in contact with."Iraq travel guides Her work colleagues have launched a collection drive in her honor. Part of the funds will be used to "establish a scholarship fund supporting Latina women in aviation, something Ariana was passionate about." By her example, say those who knew her, she sought to inspire her two brothers and young Latinos. "A dependable leader" After ROTC at Central Washington University, she began her official Air Force career in September 2017. In 2020, she graduated from his Combat Systems Officer (CSO) training. She initially served as a navigator on the E-8C JSTARS aircraft. While at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, she held leadership roles as a Standardization and Evaluation officer, deputy flight commander and flight commander. Subsequently, she attended undergraduate pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, where she obtained his pilot wings in 2025. After pilot training, she specialized in flying the KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft. She was promoted to the rank of captain in 2021. At the time of the incident, Savino was serving as chief of operations for the 99th Air Refueling Squadron in Birmingham, Alabama. In this position, she was responsible for a flight hour program valued at $21 million, in addition to managing daily flight scheduling and aircrew training. She accumulated a total of 348 combat flight hours during deployments in 2020 and 2026. "She was a dependable leader who knew how to look out for her fellow Airmen," said her colleagues, who also described her as "a dedicated friend; devoted sister and best friend to Kelaia and Zevin, and loving mom to her dogs, Zoey and Piper, who were her whole world." Honors from Congress: "The absolute best of our state and country" "We mourn all of our nation's heroes who make the ultimate sacrifice protecting us," Congressman Michael Baumgartner tweeted after the incident. "It hits particularly close to home when those service members are from Washington state. May Ariana Savino rest in peace, may perpetual light shine upon her, and may her family and friends be comforted at this difficult time." "I am heartbroken to learn that Captain Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, was one of the brave service members who died in the plane crash over Iraq," representative Kim Schrier, D-Washington's 8th Congressional District, meanwhile, maintained. "Ariana chose a life of service for which I am profoundly grateful. I send my deepest condolences to her family and loved ones, and pray for the safety of all our service members."Memorial tribute videos Sen. Patty Murray thanked her "deeply" for her "courage and sacrifice in service to our country." "Our servicemembers put their lives on the line to keep our country safe—remarkable women like Capt. Savino represent the absolute best of our state and country," she added. "I also want to express my sincerest condolences to the family and loved ones of Capt. Savino and join them in mourning her loss." Congressman Michael Baumgartner @RepBaumgartner We mourn all of our nation’s heroes who make the ultimate sacrifice protecting us. It hits particularly close to home when those service members are from Washington state. May Ariana Savino rest in peace, may perpetual light shine upon her, and may her family and friends be comforted at this difficult time. ���� Quote Square profile picture The Seattle Times @seattletimes · Mar 14 Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, was assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing, at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida. The other military members killed in the incident in Iraq Along with Capt. Ariana G. Savino, the five other Air Force members who died in the KC-135 crash are: Major John A. Klinner, 33, of Alabama Technical Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, age 34, of Kentucky Captain Seth R. Koval, age 38, of Indiana Captain Curtis J. Angst, age 30, of Ohio Technical Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, age 28, of Ohio |
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