A son, husband, national hero; slain pilot unites Jordan

“He always wanted to be a pilot,” she said. He was a really smart guy, and everyone loved him. And he was well-known, and he was that guy who was so popular.”

Al-Kasasbeh left behind a widow. They had wed just six months before. On the spot of their ceremony, the family’s men gathered in a tent.

The planes overflew the slain 27-year-old lieutenant’s home in the village of Ay in Karak governorate, saluting him, as they returned from the fresh bombing operation named after him — “Moath the Martyr.”

CNN’s Jomana Karadsheh reported from Jordan and Ben Brumfield wrote this report from Atlanta. CNN’s Ali Younes, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Barbara Starr and Samira Said contributed to this report.

CNN