The U.S. Air Force has confirmed the identities of the six airmen killed in the crash of a KC-135 Stratotanker in Iraq on March 14, 2026. The aircraft, assigned to the 350th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, crashed in a non-combat related incident near Al Asad Air Base. An investigation into the cause is ongoing.
Among the deceased is Major John "J.T." Grimes, 35, of Huntsville, Alabama, a pilot who had recently been promoted in January 2026. The other crew members identified by the Air Force are Captain Sarah Chen, 29, of Dayton, Ohio; Senior Master Sergeant David Miller, 42, of Columbus, Ohio; Technical Sergeant Marcus Rodriguez, 33, of Cleveland, Ohio; Captain Lisa Park, 31, of Springfield, Ohio; and Staff Sergeant Robert Taylor, 28, of Cincinnati, Ohio.
The crew had been deployed for a short period as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led mission against ISIS. The crash marks one of the deadliest non-combat incidents for U.S. forces in Iraq in recent years. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin offered condolences, stating the Department of Defense is focused on supporting the families of the fallen.
