By Muhammad Mamman
The United States military has identified Major Alex Kellner as one of the six service members killed after a US Air Force refuelling aircraft crashed over Iraq.
According to military officials, the aircraft — a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker — went down during operations in Iraqi airspace, resulting in the deaths of all six personnel on board. The circumstances surrounding the crash are still under investigation.
Major Kellner is the second service member to be publicly identified following the incident. He is survived by his wife and three children.
The United States Air Force has expressed condolences to the families of the fallen personnel, describing the loss as a tragedy for both the service and the wider military community.
Officials have yet to release the identities of the remaining victims as notifications to their families continue. Investigators are working to determine the cause of the crash involving the ageing aerial refuelling tanker, which has long been a backbone of US military air operations.
Further details about the incident are expected as the investigation progresses.
