The U.S. Department of Defense has identified the six U.S. Air Force crew members who died in an aircraft crash in western Iraq on Thursday, March 13, 2026. The incident involved a CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft assigned to the 20th Special Operations Squadron.
Among the deceased is 31-year-old Capt. Ariana G. Savino, a native of Covington, Washington. The Pentagon confirmed the names of the other five service members: Capt. John R. Gallagher, 30, of Simi Valley, California; Capt. Nicholas P. Losapio, 31, of Rockingham, New Hampshire; Senior Master Sgt. Brendan D. Johnson, 46, of Chico, California; Staff Sgt. Jacob M. Galliher, 24, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts; and Staff Sgt. David T. Board, 34, of Pasadena, Maryland.
The aircraft crashed during a routine training mission. U.S. Central Command stated there were no indications of hostile activity involved in the crash. An investigation into the cause is ongoing.
The crash marks a significant loss for the U.S. military's special operations community. The CV-22B Osprey is used to conduct long-range special operations missions, and the 20th Special Operations Squadron is based at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico.
