The fallen airmen were identified as Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Indiana; Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio, all assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus. They were among six U.S. service members killed when the refueling aircraft, supporting U.S. operations against Iran, crashed in western Iraq near the Iraqi‑Jordanian border on March 12, according to U.S. Central Command and Pentagon officials.
DeWine said he was notified that three of the six airmen were Ohio National Guard members serving with the 121st Air Refueling Wing and described their deaths as a profound loss for the state and the nation. “Fran and I offer our deepest condolences to the families, friends, and fellow servicemembers of Capt. Seth Koval, Capt. Curtis Angst, and Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons of the Ohio Air National Guard,” the governor said in a statement posted on social media.
Under the governor’s order, flags will remain at half-staff until sunset on the day of each airman’s funeral, a common tribute used by the state to honor fallen service members and public safety officers. The directive applies to all public buildings and grounds throughout Ohio, and DeWine encouraged private businesses and residents to lower their flags as a sign of respect.
The KC‑135 aircraft was participating in Operation Epic Fury, a refueling mission tied to ongoing operations against Iran, when it crashed while flying over friendly airspace in western Iraq, officials said. The incident, which involved a second refueling aircraft that was able to land safely, remains under investigation by military authorities.
Military and political leaders in Ohio have framed the flag order as both a symbolic gesture and a reminder of the risks carried by Guard members, who often balance civilian careers with high‑stakes overseas deployments. At Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, the 121st Air Refueling Wing has long provided aerial refueling support for U.S. and allied aircraft, a role that has placed its aircrews in conflict zones around the world.
Community tributes have also begun to emerge for the fallen airmen, particularly for Simmons, whose family in Columbus has spoken publicly about his service and character. Former coaches and friends have remembered him as a talented runner and a person “with a smile that lit up the room,” reflecting the personal impact of a loss now being marked at the state level through the half‑staff order.