Alabama says goodbye to Maj. Alex Klinner: Funeral today for airman killed in Iraq refueling plane crash

1 hour ago 1

From left, Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Ky., Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Wash.; and Maj. John A. (Alex) Klinner, 33, of Auburn. They were killed in a plane crash in support of Operation Epic Fury along with three other service members. Pruitt, Savino and Klinner were members of the 99th Refueling Squadron, based at Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base in Birmingham, Ala.

Maj. Alex Klinner

Technical Sergeant Ashley Pruitt

Captain Ariana G. Savino

Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., walks after arriving with President Donald Trump Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Del., to attend the casualty return for the six crew members of an Air Force refueling aircraft who died when their plane crashed in western Iraq while supporting operations against Iran. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

President Donald Trump arrives on Air Force One, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Del., to attend the casualty return for the six crew members of an Air Force refueling aircraft who died when their plane crashed in western Iraq while supporting operations against Iran. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Major Alex Klinner and his wife, Libby

Major Alex Klinner and two of his three children.

Technical Sgt. Ashley Pruitt

Major Alex Klinner and his family

A KC135R takes off from the Birmingham bound for the Middle East in 2003. Members of the 117th Air Refueling Wing of the Alabama Air National guard were loaded up for deployment.

Capt. Ariana Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington, was one of three airmen who were members of a historic Alabama-based squadron killed in the March 12 KC-135 Stratotanker crash during Operation Epic Fury that took six lives.

Capt. Ariana Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington, was one of three airmen who were members of a historic Alabama-based squadron killed in the March 12 KC-135 Stratotanker crash during Operation Epic Fury that took six lives.

People are gathering in Trussville today to honor the life of Maj. Alex Klinner, one of six U.S. military members killed in a KC-135 crash in Iraq while attempting to refuel and assist in the war against Iran.

Read Entire Article