Mike Rogers (AL)
03/19/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/19/2026 13:38
ICYMI, AL.com: ‘Selfless sacrifice’ of 6 killed in Iraq refueling plane crash honored on floor of Congress
WASHINGTON - Today, AL.com published a story regarding U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (AL-03) leading a moment of silence on the House Floor to honor the KC-135 crew who were killed in Iraq in support of Operation Epic Fury. Rep. Rogers was joined by the entire Alabama House Delegation and members of the Ohio Delegation.
Read the full story on AL.com here and below.
'Selfless sacrifice' of 6 killed in Iraq refueling plane crash honored on floor of Congress
William Thornton
March 19, 2026
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala. led his colleagues in the House of Representatives Thursday morning in a moment of silence for six crew members of a KC-135 Air Force refueling aircraft who were killed last week in a plane crash over friendly territory in western Iraq.
They were from Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Washington state.
The commemoration happened at 10:33 a.m. EDT on the House floor.
Rogers, standing with other lawmakers from Alabama and Ohio, said they stood to "honor the lives" of those lost in the incident one week ago.
The crash killed three people assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida: Maj. John A. "Alex" Klinner, 33, of Trussville; Capt. Ariana Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington; and Tech. Sgt. Ashley Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky.
The three served in the 99th Air Refueling Squadron of the 117th Air Refueling Wing located at Sumpter Smith Joint Air National Guard Base in Birmingham.
The three others were assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio: Capt. Seth Koval, 38, a resident of Stoutsville, Ohio, who was from Mooresville, Indiana; Capt. Curtis Angst, 30, who lived in Columbus; and Master Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28, of Columbus.
Gov. Kay Ivey has ordered flags in Alabama to be flown at half-staff on the day of Klinner's funeral.
Rogers said prayers are with the families of the six service members.
"I would also like to acknowledge the total of 13 service members who have lost their lives during this conflict," Rogers said. "We commend their selfless sacrifice and service to our country, and pray for their loved ones."
Other tributes followed from delegations from Ohio and California to fallen service members.
###
Mike Rogers (AL) published this content on March 19, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on March 19, 2026 at 19:38 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]