Four US soldiers killed in military plane crash during NATO exercise in Norway
The country's premier has expressed his "deepest sympathies" to the families and colleagues of those who died after the MV-22B Osprey belonging to the US Marine Corps went down in a remote region.
Saturday 19 March 2022 10:26, UK
Four US soldiers have been killed in a plane crash during a NATO military exercise in Norway, the country's prime minister has said.
Jonas Gahr Støre has expressed his "deepest sympathies" to the families and colleagues of the crew who died after the V-22B Osprey belonging to the US Marine Corps went down in a remote region on Friday.
Rescue services reached the crash site by land early on Saturday after helicopters were unable to land due to poor
weather conditions.
There were gale-force winds, heavy rain and the risk of avalanches, according to local forecasts.
Mr Støre wrote on Twitter: "It is with great sadness we have received the message that four American soldiers died in a plane crash last night.
"The soldiers participated in the NATO exercise Cold Response.
"Our deepest sympathies go to the soldiers' families, relatives and fellow soldiers in their unit."
An investigation has been launched into the crash but it has been hampered by bad weather.
The search operation was launched after the aircraft, which had been on a training mission, was reported missing when it failed to arrive at Bodø inside the Arctic Circle.
The plane crashed in Gråtådalen, Beiarn, around 30 miles (50km) south of Bodø.
The annual NATO drills in Norway are unrelated to the war in Ukraine.
This year they include around 30,000 troops, 220 aircraft and 50 vessels from 27 countries.
Non-NATO members Finland and Sweden are also taking part.
The exercise began on 14 March and is due to end on 1 April.
No cause was given for the crash but the Norwegian armed forces said Cold Response "will carry on as planned, with the measures we have to take due to the weather".