A FAMILY LEFT IN PIECES: The Tragic Crash That Took a Young Air Force Major and Changed Three Children’s Lives Forever

HEARTBREAK AFTER THE CRASH: A Young Father Gone, Leaving Three Children and a Family Struggling to Move Forward

“My heart is shattered.” Those were the painful words shared by Libby Klinner after the tragic military plane crash that took the life of her husband, Air Force Major Alex Klinner. At just 33 years old, the devoted father left behind three young children — including infant twins who will grow up with only stories and photographs of the man many describe as kind, devoted, and deeply committed to both his family and his service.

Now, as the shock of the tragedy continues to ripple through those who knew him, Libby says the thought that hurts the most is that their children may never truly know the man their father was. Friends and loved ones are beginning to share memories of his life, hoping that one day those stories will help his children understand the legacy he left behind — but the question that lingers painfully in the air is how a family rebuilds when such an irreplaceable piece of their world is suddenly gone.

The KC-135 aircraft “went down in western Iraq” on March 12, said the U.S. Central Command

Maj. Alex Klinner and his twins. Credit :

GoFundMe

NEED TO KNOW

Six U.S. service members died in a KC-135 refueling plane crash in western Iraq on March 12 amid the Iran war
A fundraiser for Maj. Alex Klinner’s widow and children has received over $1.2 million in donations
Families of the deceased service members have shared tributes highlighting their loved ones’ selflessness and lasting impact

New information is being released about the servicemen and women who died in a U.S. military refueling aircraft crash in Iraq amid the Iran war.

Six crew members on a KC-135 aircraft were killed when the plane “went down in western Iraq” on March 12, according to U.S. Central Command. The crash is being investigated.

Those killed in the crash were identified as Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, from Bardstown, Ky., Maj. John A. “Alex” Klinner, 33, of Birmingham, Ala.; Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Wash.; Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, of Moorseville, Ind.; Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio, according to the U.S. Department of War.

The MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla., shared a tribute to three of the deceased service members who were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, but were stationed at Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base in Birmingham, Ala.

“Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of Alex, Ariana and Ashley,” U.S. Air Force Col. Ed Szczepanik said in a press release. “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.”

Alex and Libby Klinner and their three young children before his death on March 12.

GoFundMe

Alabama-based pilot Alex Klinner was promoted to major in January and had been deployed less than a week when the crash occurred, his brother-in-law James Harrill told the Los Angeles Times. Alex was the father of 7-month-old twins and a 2-year-old son with his wife Libby.

“They won’t get to see firsthand the way he would jump up to help in any way he could,” Alex’s widow wrote in a heartbreaking Instagram post, per the Associated Press. “They won’t see how goofy and funny he was. They won’t witness his selflessness, the way he thought about everyone else before himself. They won’t get to feel the deep love he had for them.”

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A GoFundMe page was set up for Libby and her children by her sister, Sarah Harrill, and has already amassed more than $1.2 million in donations.

“Alex was more than a serviceman,” Sarah wrote of her late brother-in-law. “He was a devoted husband, a loving father, and the kind of person who would quietly step in to help anyone who needed it. He embodied what it means to be a servant leader. His loss has left an immeasurable void in the lives of all who knew and loved him.”

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Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt.

MacDill Air Force Base

Sgt. Ashley came from a “large family” in Kentucky and is survived by her husband, Gregory Pruitt, and their 3-year-old daughter.

“I’ll give you something brief — in a word, radiant,” Gregory said of his late wife in an emotional interview with the Los Angeles Times. “If there was a light in the room, she was it.”

Ohio native Simmons was also remembered by his family as a light.

“Tyler’s smile could light up any room, his strong presence would fill it. His parents, grandparents, family and friends are grief-stricken for the loss of life,” Simmons’ family said in a statement to WCMH-TV in Columbus.

Seven other U.S. service members have died so far amid the ongoing war, which started with U.S. and Israeli strikes on the country in late February as part of what the U.S. called an operation both to topple a hostile power and prevent its nuclear ambitions.