US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the deaths of all six crew members in the crash of a KC-135 tanker aircraft in western Iraq on March 12.

"All six crew members of the American KC-135 tanker aircraft that crashed in western Iraq are now presumed dead. The aircraft was lost while flying over friendly airspace on March 12 during Operation Epic Fury," the command's statement reads.

The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. It is stated that "the loss of the aircraft was not due to enemy or friendly fire."

The Pentagon later released the names of the fallen American servicemembers: US Air Force Major John Klinner, 33, of Alabama; Captain Ariana Savino, 31, of Washington; Technical Sergeant Ashdi Pruitt, 34, of Kentucky; Captain Seth Koval, 38, of Indiana; Captain Curtis Engst, 30, of Ohio; and Technical Sergeant Tyler Simmons, 28, also of Ohio.

Earlier, US Central Command had confirmed the deaths of four crew members.