- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Union Today
By the People, for the People
Ohio Pilot Honors Fallen National Guard Airmen With Mid-Air Tribute
The tribute flight drew crosses and a soldier's silhouette over central Ohio skies.
Mar. 22, 2026 at 9:04pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
An Ohio pilot took to the skies on Thursday to create a mid-air tribute honoring three Ohio National Guard airmen who died in a crash in Iraq. The pilot flew a P28A plane for over four hours, drawing crosses and the silhouette of a soldier saluting during the flight over multiple areas of central Ohio.
Why it matters
The tribute flight was a poignant way for the local community to honor the memory of the three fallen airmen, who were stationed at the Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus. The crash that claimed their lives was part of Operation Epic Fury in Iraq.
The details
According to FlightAware, the pilot took off from Bowling Green at 3:42 p.m. and landed back there right before 8 p.m. The plane flew over Union and Delaware counties, drawing the tributes in the sky. The three airmen who died in the crash were Cpt. Seth Koval, Cpt. Curtis Angst, and Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons.
- The pilot took off from Bowling Green at 3:42 p.m. on Thursday, March 22, 2026.
- The pilot landed back in Bowling Green right before 8 p.m. on the same day.
The players
Cpt. Seth Koval
An Ohio National Guard airman who died in a crash in Iraq during Operation Epic Fury.
Cpt. Curtis Angst
An Ohio National Guard airman with over a decade of flying experience who died in the Iraq crash.
Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons
An Ohio National Guard airman from Columbus and a graduate of Eastmoor High School who died in the Iraq crash.
Maj. John A. Klinner
One of the other airmen killed in the crash in Iraq.
Capt. Ariana G. Savino
One of the other airmen killed in the crash in Iraq.
Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt
One of the other airmen killed in the crash in Iraq.
What’s next
American and Ohio flags will remain flown at half-staff until each soldier's funeral takes place. A memorial fund for the families was created by Rickenbacker Military Families.
The takeaway
This mid-air tribute highlights the deep sense of community and respect for fallen service members in Ohio, as the pilot took to the skies to honor the memory of the three National Guard airmen who made the ultimate sacrifice during their service.
