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4 US service members killed after aircraft crashes in Norway, PM says
“It’s with nice disappointment we’ve acquired the message that 4 American troopers died in a airplane crash final evening,” Jonas Gahr Støre mentioned on his official Twitter account.
“The troopers participated within the NATO train Chilly Response. Our deepest sympathies go to the troopers’ households, family members and fellow troopers of their unit,” he added.
The MV-22B Osprey plane, assigned to the II Marine Expeditionary Pressure (MEF) US army unit, was “on a coaching mission in Nordland County, northern Norway on Friday” with a crew of 4, the Norwegian Armed Forces mentioned.
The plane was noticed from a rescue helicopter, and appeared to have crashed within the municipality of Beiarn, Nordland Police chief of workers, Bent Arne Eilertsen, informed public broadcaster NRK on Saturday. The craft appeared to have “main harm,” Eilertsen mentioned.
“What we’ve been informed is that it’s an American airplane with Individuals on board,” Eilertsen added.
The U.S. Marine Corps mentioned 4 Marines had been concerned in an accident involving an MV-22B Osprey throughout a coaching mission in Norway on Friday however didn’t elaborate additional on their standing, or their identities pending notification to their households.
“Although the character of army service is inherently harmful, the protection of our Marines, Sailors, Allies and companions is our high precedence. Our hearts exit to the households affected by these occasions. The incident is presently underneath investigation by each Norwegian and U.S. organizations,” the Marine Corps mentioned in a press release.
“Norwegian civil authorities took the lead in search and rescue efforts, and we’re grateful for his or her skilled dedication to our enduring relationship. We’re immensely grateful for the help of all first responders, the Norwegian Armed Forces, and Allies and companions that contributed varied property and folks within the ongoing efforts,” the assertion additionally mentioned.
“This 12 months’s train was introduced over eight months in the past,” the NATO web site mentioned. “It isn’t linked to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine, which NATO is responding to with preventive, proportionate and non-escalatory measures.”
Dangerous climate means search crews must entry the positioning by land, with rescuers utilizing snowmobiles to succeed in the scene, in accordance with Eilertsen.
“Precipitation, avalanche hazard, wind and darkness make such a rescue operation demanding,” Eilertsen mentioned.
The plane was reported lacking at 6:26 p.m. native time Friday whereas heading towards the city of Bodø, positioned north of the Arctic Circle, the Norwegian Joint Rescue Coordination Heart (JRCC) mentioned in a press release.
The plane’s final identified place was by Saltfjellet, a mountainous space of Nordland county, the assertion added.
The Norwegian Security Investigation Authority and The Nationwide Prison Investigation Service will arrive in Bodø on Saturday and begin their investigation on the city’s airport.
As a result of poor climate, they’ll more than likely make their method to the crash web site on Sunday, in accordance with NRK.
CNN’s Jamie Crawford contributed to this report.