Four US troopers have been killed in a aircraft crash in a Norwegian city within the Arctic Circle throughout a NATO train unrelated to the Ukraine struggle, Norway’s prime minister mentioned on Saturday.
Norway PM Jonas Gahr Stoere tweeted that they have been killed within the crash on Friday night time. The trigger was underneath investigation, however Norwegian police reported unhealthy climate within the space.
“The soldiers participated in the NATO exercise Cold Response,” Gahr Stoere mentioned. “Our deepest sympathies go to the soldiers’ families, relatives and fellow soldiers in their unit.”
The aircraft was a V-22B Osprey that belongs to the US Marine Corps, Norway’s armed forces mentioned.
“The aircraft had a crew of four and was out on a training mission in Nordland County” in northern Norway, in accordance with an announcement.
It was on its manner north to Bodoe, the place it was scheduled to land simply earlier than 6 pm Friday. The aircraft crashed in Graetaedalen in Beiarn, south of Bodoe.
Police mentioned a search and rescue mission was launched instantly. At 1:30 am Saturday, the police arrived on the scene and confirmed that the crew of 4 had died.
“We can confirm an incident has occurred involving a Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey aircraft,” the US Marines mentioned in a tweet. “The cause of the incident is under investigation, and additional details will be provided as available.”
The annual NATO drills in Norway are unrelated to the struggle in Ukraine. This yr they embody round 30,000 troops, 220 plane and 50 vessels from 27 nations. Non-NATO members Finland and Sweden are additionally taking part.
The workouts started on March 14 and finish on April 1.
No trigger was given for the crash, however the Norwegian armed forces mentioned that Cold Response “will carry on as planned, with the measures we have to take due to the weather.”
Police launched an investigation into the crash and accident fee members and police representatives have been on account of arrive on the crash web site on Saturday.
“The weather is very bad in the area to complete work at the scene but police will take it up again as soon as the weather conditions allow it,” operations supervisor Ivar Bo Nilsson from the Norland police district instructed reporters.
Lt. Gen Yngve Odlo head of the Norwegian Armed Forces’ operational headquarters, mentioned that Cold Response would proceed regardless of the crash.
“Right now there is full focus on ending the rescue operation, taking care of the people and then there will be a normal procedure with causation,” Odlo was quoted as saying by Norwegian public broadcaster NRK.
The first Cold Response train was held in 2006, and the drills have been carried out a complete of eight instances over time. They happen in southeastern, central and northern Norway.
