Crew of fatal US military crash included Alabama father and several from Ohio

A pilot from Alabama had just been promoted to major in January and had been deployed less than a week when the refuelling aircraft he was aboard crashed in Iraq this week killing him and five others his brotherinlaw said SaturdayAlex Klinner 33 leaves behind three small children 7monthold twins and a 2yearold son his brotherinlaw James Harrill said Saturday while confirming his deathIts kind of heartbreaking to say He was just a really good dad and really loved his family a lot like a lot Harrill said Also aboard the aircraft was an Ohio man whose loved ones remembered him for his smile his parents saidThe Pentagon hasnt yet revealed the identities of the six but families began revealing who had died Saturday The aircraft was in friendly airspace supporting operations against Iran when an unspecified incident involving another aircraft occurred according to US Central Command The other plane landed safety US military officials saidThe Ohio Air National Guards 121st Air Refuelling Wing said in a Facebook post late Friday that three of the dead were airmen who served in the Columbusbased unitWe share in the sorrow of their loved ones and we must not forget the valuable contributions these Airmen made to their country and the impact they have left on our organisation according to the 121st Air Refuelling Wings postA new father and a new majorKlinner an eightyear US Air Force veteran from Birmingham Alabama had just moved with his family into a new home his wife Libby Klinner said in an Instagram post mourning his deathAn outdoorsman who enjoyed hiking Klinner was also ready to help others When Harrill last saw him in January Klinner had shovelled Harrills vehicle out of the snow during a family weddingAlex was one of those guys that had this steady command about him said Harrill who helped set up a GoFundMe site for Klinners family He was literally one of the most kindest giving peopleLibby Klinner said in a post that her heart is broken for their children who will grow up not knowing their father They wont get to see firsthand the way he would jump up to help in any way he could she wrote They wont see how goofy and funny he was They wont witness his selflessness the way he thought about everyone else before himself They wont get to feel the deep love he had for themA man with a ready smileSgt Tyler Simmons of Columbus Ohio also was among six service members who died Thursday in the crash of a KC135 Stratotanker his mother Cheryl Simmons confirmed on Saturday Cheryl Simmons said she was making funeral plans for her sonIn a statement obtained by WCMHTV in Columbus Tyler Simmons family said it was saddened beyond measure to hear of the fatal crashTylers smile could light up any room his strong presence would fill it His parents grandparents family and friends are grief stricken for the loss of life they saidThe refuelling aircraft is a mainstay in the US militaryUS Central Command which oversees the Middle East has said the crash occurred on a combat mission but was over friendly territory in western Iraq Military officials said it is being investigated and was not due to hostile or friendly fireThe KC135 aircraft refuels other planes in midair allowing them to fly longer distances and sustain operations without landing The plane can also be used to transport wounded personnel and conduct surveillance missions according to military expertsThe Congressional Research Service says the Air Force last year had 376 KC135s including 151 on active duty 163 in the Air National Guard and 62 in the Air Force Reserve It has been in service for more than 60 yearsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever