Trump honors fallen service members who died in Iraq plane crash amid Iran conflict

President Trump on Wednesday paid his respects to the six airmen killed in the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war when their KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq.

Trump attended the dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base, Del. for Maj. John A. Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Ala.; Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Wash.; Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Ky.; Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Ind.; Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio.

The dignified transfer remained private at the request of the families.

Upon exiting the plane at Dover prior to the ceremonial movement, Trump was greeted by Col. Jamil Musa, commander of the 436th Airlift Wing at the base, and Col. Martha “Jeannie” Sasnett, head of Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations.

Also in attendance was Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Sen. John Husted (R-Ohio), Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), and Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.)

It marks the second time since the war began on Feb. 28 that Trump attended the solemn military ritual, during which the remains of fallen military members are transferred from the aircraft to an awaiting vehicle upon their return to the U.S.

The six service members honored Wednesday were killed on March 12 over friendly territory in western Iraq during an air refueling mission. 

The crash followed an unspecified incident involving two aircraft in over Iraq but there was no “hostile or friendly fire,” according to U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East. The incident is under investigation. 

The crash brought the U.S. death toll in Operation Epic Fury to at least 13 service members. Another 200 U.S. service members have been injured – including 10 severely – in the conflict, the Pentagon revealed this week.

Trump last traveled to Dover Air Force Base on March 7 for the dignified transfer of six service members killed by an Iranian drone strike at a command center in Kuwait. 

He was criticized for baseball-style hat during the service, and later using a photo from the event in a fundraising email. Trump was not wearing a hat when he walked off the plane on Wednesday; photographers were not allowed at the ceremony.

The president has said more casualties are likely as the war continues, even as he has struggled to articulate a timeline for the conflict or when he views his objectives as achieved.

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