DEVASTATING: A true American hero gone way too soon. The horrific plane crash in Iraq has claimed the life of Major Alex Klinner, a 33-year-old devoted father to three very young children

A DAD-OF-THREE who died in the fatal Iraq plane crash has been remembered as an “incredible person”.

Major Alex Klinner, 33, was one of six airmen killed when a KC-135 refuelling aircraft crashed in western Iraq.

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Alex Klinner, dad of three, sadly lost his life when the plane was downed over IraqCredit: GoFundMe
 

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Alex Klinner and his wife LibbyCredit: GoFundMe
 

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Alex and his young family have been left devastatedCredit: GoFundMe
He and his wife Libby, had just moved into a new home with their two-and-a-half-year-old and seven-month-old twins.

In a tragic tribute, Libby wrote she was “devastated” to lose the “best person I know”.

“But even more so, my heart is broken for our three kids who will grow up not knowing him,” she said.

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“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. He was an incredible person and husband, but he was the best dad.”

She said the loss still didn’t feel real and expected him to come home.

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“I keep thinking that I’ll get a text from him saying ‘Sorry honey! Didn’t mean to scare you’ and everything will be alright,” she said.

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Alex’s brother-in-law James Harrill said: “It’s kind of heart-breaking to say, he was just a really good dad and really loved his family a lot — like a lot.”

Alex was an eight-year US Air Force veteran from Birmingham, Alabama.

He was a mechanical engineering graduate from Auburn University.

Tyler Simmons, 28, of Columbus, was the first airmen to be named in the fatal collision.

Simmons was a technical sergeant and boom operator with the 121st Sir Refuelling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, before being deployed to the Middle East as part of military operations around Iran.

His heartbroken mother, Cheryl Simmons, told WSYX: “He called me on Wednesday, and we were able to talk to him.

“I was over here, and we actually had a beautiful conversation. I was like Tyler, how are you?

“He said I’m good. I’m good, but mother knows.

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Alex was a dad of twinsCredit: GoFundMe
 

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Tyler, 28, is described as having a ‘million dollar smile’Credit: Credit: Facebook
 

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Tyler dreamt of serving his countryCredit: Credit: Facebook
 

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Tyler speaks during the Enlisted Leadership Symposium at Youngstown Air Reserve StationCredit: AP
“He was having some challenges, you know, he told me they had been shot at, but he was okay.”

A frantic search for the troops travelling in the KC-135 Stratotanker was launched after the aircraft was downed over Iraq in a suspected mid-air collision.

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US Central Command said in a statement: “All six crew members aboard a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft that went down in western Iraq are now confirmed deceased.

“The aircraft was lost while flying over friendly airspace March 12 during Operation Epic Fury.”

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The Ohio Air Force soldier has been named as one of the six US servicemembers who died when a refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq this weekCredit: Facebook
 

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Tyler’s mom’s agony as her son was named as one of the deadCredit: WBNS
 

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A KC‑135 refuelling aircraft went down in western Iraq Credit: AP
 

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The damaged second aircraft which landed safely after the suspected mid-air collision