A pilot from Alabama who was promoted to major in January and deployed less than a week ago was killed when his tanker plane crashed in Iraq this week, killing him and five others, his brother-in-law said Saturday.
Alex Klinner, 33, left behind three children: 7-month-old twins and a 2-year-old son, his brother-in-law, James Harrill, said Saturday when he confirmed his death.
“It’s kind of heartbreaking to say: He was a very good father and loved his family very much – very much,” Harrier said.
Also on the plane was an Ohio man whose parents said loved ones remembered his smile.
The Pentagon has not yet revealed the identities of the six, but on Saturday their families began revealing the identities of those who died.
According to U.S. Central Command, an unidentified incident involving another aircraft occurred while the aircraft was in “friendly” airspace supporting operations against Iran. U.S. military officials said the other plane landed safely.
The Ohio Air National Guard’s 121st Air Refueling Wing said in a Facebook post late Friday that three of the deceased were airmen serving with the unit in Columbus.
“Our hearts go out to their loved ones and we must never forget the valuable contributions these Airmen made to our country and the impact they had on our organization,” the 121st Air Refueling Wing’s post said.
A new father and a new profession
Klingner, an eight-year U.S. Air Force veteran from Birmingham, Ala., whose wife, Libby Klingner, had just moved into a new home with her family, mourned his death in an Instagram post.
Klingner was an outdoor enthusiast who enjoyed hiking and also enjoyed helping others. When Khalil last saw him in January, Klingner shoveled Khalil’s car out of the snow during a family wedding.
“Alex was one of those guys who had this steady command over him,” said Harrier, who helped Klingner’s family set up a GoFundMe site. “He was truly one of the kindest, most helpful people.”
Libby Klinner said in a post that her heart breaks for her children, who will grow up not knowing their father.
“They couldn’t see firsthand how he would jump to help in any way,” she wrote. “They wouldn’t see how goofy and funny he was. They wouldn’t witness his selflessness, the way he thought of others before himself. They wouldn’t feel the deep love he had for them.”
A man with a big smile
Sgt. Tyler Simmons of Columbus, Ohio, was one of six service members killed in a KC-135 Stratotanker crash on Thursday, his mother, Cheryl Simmons, confirmed Saturday. Cheryl Simmons said she is making funeral plans for her son.
In a statement obtained by WCMH-TV in Columbus, the family of Tyler Simmons said they were devastated to hear the news of the fatal accident.
“Tyler’s smile could light up any room and his strong presence would fill the room. His parents, grandparents, family and friends are devastated by his loss,” they said.
Tankers are the backbone of the U.S. military
U.S. Central Command, which oversees the Middle East, said the crash occurred during a combat mission but over “friendly” territory in western Iraq. Military officials said the incident was under investigation and “was not the result of crossfire between enemy or friendly forces.”
KC-135 aircraft refuel other aircraft in the air, allowing them to fly longer distances and sustain operations without landing. Military experts said the aircraft could also be used to transport the wounded and perform surveillance missions.
The Congressional Research Service said the Air Force had 376 KC-135s last year, with 151 in active service, 163 in the Air National Guard and 62 in the Air Force Reserve. It has been in service for more than 60 years.
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Lieb reported from Jefferson City, Missouri; Scolforo reported from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Walker from New York.
