Maj. Alex Klinner was among six American service members killed Thursday when a KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq while supporting Operation Epic Fury, family members and news reports said.
Klinner was a husband and father of three who had lived in the Birmingham area, his family told al.com, which first reported details of the crash. A social media post linked to the report offered prayers for “our friends and neighbors in Alabama” and called Klinner “an American hero.”
The KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling plane that the U.S. Air Force has used for decades to extend the range and endurance of military aircraft. The crash killed six service members from across the United States, authorities and news accounts said.
The loss has prompted condolences and expressions of support in Alabama and elsewhere. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
