All articles tagged with #air force
The FBI is offering a $200,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Monica Witt, a former Air Force special agent charged in 2019 with espionage for allegedly sharing highly classified U.S. intelligence with Iran and defecting to Tehran in 2013; prosecutors say she aided Iran’s intelligence services and sought to gather information on U.S. colleagues, with four Iranians charged in the same indictment.
Israel’s Ministerial Committee on Procurement approved plans to add two new fighter squadrons—one F-35I Adir and one F-15IA—under the Magen Israel program, renewing the drive to strengthen the IAF with hundreds of jets over time, involving a tens-of-billions-shekel package (with potential U.S. funding) and no delivery timeline yet disclosed, as part of ongoing force buildup following recent regional operations and domestic defense development.
South Korea’s air force says two F-15K jets collided mid-air in 2021 over Daegu after the wingman began taking photos of the mission with his phone; both pilots survived, but repairs cost 880 million won. The wingman initially faced an 88 million won fine, but a Board of Audit and Inspection ruling reduced the penalty to 88 million won (a tenth of the air force’s demand) and faulted the air force for not adequately regulating pilots’ personal camera use, with no details on action against other involved pilots.
The U.S. Air Force will keep the A-10 Thunderbolt II in service through 2030 to preserve combat power while ramping up production, reversing years of retirement talk; Congress has blocked broader cuts in the past, the fleet has continued flying (including missions like Epic Fury in the Middle East), and Air Force leadership says more updates are forthcoming.
An F-15 Weapons Systems Officer downed in Iran was rescued after about 48 hours on the run, with reports that he signaled rescuers by waving American-flag themed underwear as a joint U.S. operation brought him home.
A Colombian Air Force C-130 Hercules crashed shortly after takeoff near Puerto Leguízamo in Putumayo, with 114 passengers and 11 crew aboard. At least 48 people have been recovered with injuries; fatalities have not yet been confirmed. Emergency crews are at the site, and President Petro has expressed concern while criticizing bureaucratic delays in modernising the armed forces' equipment.
A shooting at a U.S. Air Force base in New Mexico left one person dead and another wounded; authorities are investigating the incident.
A U.S. Air Force refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq last week, killing six service members, including Maj. Klinner with ties to metro Atlanta. The Roswell, Georgia-born officer—promoted to Major in January and responsible for flight training—left behind a wife, Libby, and three young children as his family grapples with the loss. Names of the other victims include Capt. Ariana Savino, Tech. Sgt. Ashley Pruitt, Capt. Seth Koval, Capt. Curtis Angst, and Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons. Libby traveled to Dover Air Force Base for the expected arrival of Klinner’s remains, and a GoFundMe has been set up to help the family; authorities also asked the public to refrain from circulating AI-generated images during their grief.
Families of Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons and five other airmen identified in a KC-135 crash pressure President Trump to end the Iran conflict, arguing the deaths could have been prevented, while Trump was seen golfing; the Pentagon publicly identified the six service members and noted a rising casualty total in the war (13 killed), with families calling for accountability and urging voters to honor the fallen at the polls.
The family of Captain Curtis J. Angst, a 30-year-old Ohio Air National Guardsman from Wilmington, released a statement praising his decade of service, love of flying, and kindness after he was among three Guardsmen killed when a KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in Western Iraq during Operation Epic Fury. The crash is under DoD investigation and officials say it was not caused by hostile fire; the family also expressed solidarity with the other families affected.
Taiwan reports a renewed surge of Chinese military aircraft around the island after a period of quieter weeks, signaling ongoing PLA air activity and exercises near Taiwan.
The family of Capt. Ariana G. Savino mourns after she and five other airmen were killed when a KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in western Iraq on March 12 during a combat mission; a Central Washington University ROTC alum, Savino’s loved ones describe her as a passionate pilot who inspired others, and they plan an aviation scholarship for women and Latino youth in her honor.
Six U.S. Air Force airmen died when a KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in western Iraq during Operation Epic Fury, including Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington; the cause is under investigation and authorities said it was not due to friendly fire.
A U.S. Air Force KC-135 refueling tanker crashed in Iraq after an apparent collision with another KC-135 during operations related to Iran; rescue efforts are ongoing and officials have not yet confirmed fatalities.
Israel's Air Force conducted wide-scale strikes in western and central Iran, destroying dozens of ballistic-missile launchers and defense systems, including launchers poised to fire, as part of Operation Roaring Lion to degrade Iran's firing capabilities and maintain aerial superiority.