Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons, an Ohio Air National Guardsman, has been identified as one of the six U.S. service members killed in the KC-135 Stratotanker crash in western Iraq during Operation Epic Fury.
Simmons, 28, from Columbus, Ohio, served as a boom operator aboard the aerial refueling aircraft, a role responsible for transferring fuel to other military aircraft during flight. The tanker was lost on March 12 after a mid-air collision with another KC-135 in friendly airspace.
He was assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base before deploying to the Middle East in support of military operations related to the conflict with Iran.
The 121st Air Refueling Wing confirmed that three of its airmen were among those killed in the crash. In a statement, the unit expressed condolences to the families and asked the public to respect their privacy during the mourning period.
Family members described Simmons as someone who loved his work and was known for his “million-dollar smile.” He had spoken with his mother shortly before the incident while deployed in the region.
The crash involved two KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft, with one tanker going down in western Iraq while the other managed to land safely. U.S. military officials previously stated the incident was not caused by hostile fire or friendly fire, and investigations into the circumstances of the collision are ongoing.
