DeWine orders Ohio flags lowered for three Air National Guard airmen killed in Iraq crash
Half-staff order follows KC-135 crash during U.S. operations in western Iraq
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has ordered the flags of the United States and the state of Ohio to be lowered to half-staff to honor three Ohio Air National Guard airmen who were killed in a U.S. military aircraft crash in Iraq. The three were assigned to the Ohio Air National Guard’s 121st Air Refueling Wing, based at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus.
The crash involved a KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft operating in western Iraq on Thursday, March 12, 2026, as part of U.S. military activity in the region. U.S. officials said all six service members aboard the aircraft died. Three of the deceased were assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing; the other three were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida.
What is known about the incident
Military officials stated the aircraft went down in “friendly” airspace and that the circumstances remain under investigation. Early official statements described an incident involving two aircraft, with one aircraft landing safely and the other becoming a total loss. Officials also indicated the crash was not caused by hostile fire.
As of Sunday, March 15, 2026, the identities of the three Ohio airmen connected to the 121st Air Refueling Wing had not been publicly released in the initial state-level announcement describing the half-staff order.
Impact on a Columbus-based unit
The 121st Air Refueling Wing is a key Ohio-based aviation unit whose primary mission is aerial refueling using KC-135 aircraft, supporting U.S. and allied air operations by extending the range and endurance of military aircraft. The wing’s home station at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base places a significant portion of Ohio’s tanker capability in the Columbus area.
How half-staff directives typically work in Ohio
In Ohio, governors commonly direct flags to be flown at half-staff on public buildings and grounds to mark deaths of service members and other significant losses. Such directives typically specify:
- which flags are to be lowered (U.S. and Ohio state flags),
- where the order applies (state facilities and public grounds), and
- the duration of the observance (often through the day of a funeral service).
The half-staff order is intended as a statewide observance recognizing the service of the Ohio airmen and the impact of the loss on their families, unit, and community.
Further details on funeral arrangements and the precise timing of the half-staff period are expected to depend on family notifications and service plans, which can take time following an overseas military incident under investigation.