DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (AP) — President Donald Trump paid his respects at a military base in Delaware where the remains of six U.S. service members were returned to their families. The dignified transfer marked the second time the president has attended the ritual since the start of the war with Iran in late February.
The six crew members were killed when their KC-135 aircraft went down over friendly territory in western Iraq while supporting operations. Wednesday’s dignified transfer was closed to news media coverage at the request of the families in accordance with military policy.
Click to Gallery
President Donald Trump boards Air Force One, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Del., after attending the casualty return for the six crew members of an Air Force refueling aircraft who died when their plane crashed in western Iraq while supporting operations against Iran. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Deb McCutcheon, of Lakeland, salutes as the hearse carrying the remains of U.S. Army Reserve Maj. Cody Khork, a service member killed in the line of duty in the Middle East, after arriving at the Lakeland Linder Airport Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Lakeland, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
A motorcade drives President Donald Trump past Air Force One, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Del., to attend the casualty return for the six crew members of an Air Force refueling aircraft who died when their plane crashed in western Iraq while supporting operations against Iran. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
President Donald Trump walks to board Air Force One, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Del., after attending the casualty return for the six crew members of an Air Force refueling aircraft who died when their plane crashed in western Iraq while supporting operations against Iran. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
A military honor guard carries the remains of U.S. Army Reserve Maj. Cody Khork, a servicemember killed in the line of duty in the Middle East, to a waiting hearse after arriving at the Lakeland Linder Airport Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Lakeland, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Personal aide to President Donald Trump Walt Nauta, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and White House aide Natalie Harp watch President Donald Trump boards Air Force One, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Md. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Family members surround the remains of U.S. Army Reserve Maj. Cody Khork, a servicemember killed in the line of duty in the Middle East, after arriving at the Lakeland Linder Airport Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Lakeland, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth follows President Donald Trump to board Air Force One, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Md. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
A military honor guard salutes as the remains of U.S. Army Reserve Maj. Cody Khork, a service member killed in the line of duty in the Middle East, arrives at the Lakeland Linder Airport Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Lakeland, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
President Donald Trump arrives with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, second from left, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine on Air Force One, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Del., to attend the casualty return for the six crew members of an Air Force refueling aircraft who died when their plane crashed in western Iraq while supporting operations against Iran. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
President Donald Trump arrives with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine and members of Congress, on Air Force One, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Del., to attend the casualty return for the six crew members of an Air Force refueling aircraft who died when their plane crashed in western Iraq while supporting operations against Iran. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
President Donald Trump boards Air Force One, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Del., after attending the casualty return for the six crew members of an Air Force refueling aircraft who died when their plane crashed in western Iraq while supporting operations against Iran. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Deb McCutcheon, of Lakeland, salutes as the hearse carrying the remains of U.S. Army Reserve Maj. Cody Khork, a service member killed in the line of duty in the Middle East, after arriving at the Lakeland Linder Airport Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Lakeland, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
A motorcade drives President Donald Trump past Air Force One, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Del., to attend the casualty return for the six crew members of an Air Force refueling aircraft who died when their plane crashed in western Iraq while supporting operations against Iran. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
President Donald Trump walks to board Air Force One, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Del., after attending the casualty return for the six crew members of an Air Force refueling aircraft who died when their plane crashed in western Iraq while supporting operations against Iran. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
A military honor guard carries the remains of U.S. Army Reserve Maj. Cody Khork, a servicemember killed in the line of duty in the Middle East, to a waiting hearse after arriving at the Lakeland Linder Airport Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Lakeland, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Personal aide to President Donald Trump Walt Nauta, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and White House aide Natalie Harp watch President Donald Trump boards Air Force One, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Md. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Family members surround the remains of U.S. Army Reserve Maj. Cody Khork, a servicemember killed in the line of duty in the Middle East, after arriving at the Lakeland Linder Airport Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Lakeland, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth follows President Donald Trump to board Air Force One, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Md. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
A military honor guard salutes as the remains of U.S. Army Reserve Maj. Cody Khork, a service member killed in the line of duty in the Middle East, arrives at the Lakeland Linder Airport Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Lakeland, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
President Donald Trump arrives with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, second from left, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine on Air Force One, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Del., to attend the casualty return for the six crew members of an Air Force refueling aircraft who died when their plane crashed in western Iraq while supporting operations against Iran. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
President Donald Trump arrives with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine and members of Congress, on Air Force One, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at Dover Air Force Base, Del., to attend the casualty return for the six crew members of an Air Force refueling aircraft who died when their plane crashed in western Iraq while supporting operations against Iran. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
