A squadron operations chief who had recently earned her wings as a pilot, a major overseeing flight training for dozens of airmen, and a young boom operator remembered for his “million-dollar smile” were among six US Air Force airmen killed when an aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, the Pentagon said.

The Pentagon identified the airmen on Saturday, as the crash remains under investigation.

The airmen are 33-year-old Maj. John A. Klinner of Auburn, Alabama; 31-year-old Capt. Ariana G. Savino of Covington, Washington; 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; and 28-year-old Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons of Columbus, Ohio.

The crew members’ deaths bring the number of US troops killed in connection with the war with Iran to 13.

Klinner, Savino and Pruitt were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. All three served with the 99th Air Refueling Squadron, a geographically separated unit based at Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base in Birmingham, Alabama.

“They were not only outstanding Airmen. They were our neighbors – our fellow Alabamians. May their service and that of their families never be forgotten,” Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said on X.

Koval, Angst and Simmons were assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said he is mourning all of the airmen alongside the rest of the state, including those who were elite members of the Ohio Air National Guard.