Gov. Kay Ivey orders flags lowered for Alabama service members killed in plane crash

FILE – Gov. Key Ivey – Photo from the Office of Gov. Kay Ivey

Gov. Kay Ivey has ordered that flags be lowered to half-staff in memory of three service members stationed in Alabama who were killed in the crash of a refueling jet in Iraq.

Ivey has ordered that flags be lowered on Monday, March 30, statewide.

The three service members were killed in a crash involving a KC-135 Stratotanker over friendly territory in western Iraq while in support of Operation Epic Fury. The three served in the 99th Air Refueling Squadron of the 117th Air Refueling Wing, which is at Sumpter Smith Joint Air National Guard Base in Birmingham.

There were a total of six service members killed in the crash, which happened on March 12.

Maj. John A. “Alex” Klinner was 33 years old and lived in Trussville. He was a graduate of Auburn University. He was an eight-year U.S. Air Force veteran and had been awarded three medals in his career. He left behind a wife and three young children.

Maj. Ariana G. Savino was 31 and was a native of Washington state, and had more than 300 combat hours.

Technical Sgt. Ashley Pruitt was 34 and was a native of Kentucky, and had more than 900 combat hours.