Norway crash: four US service members killed after plane crashes, PM says

[ad_1]

“It’s with nice unhappiness now we have acquired the message that 4 American troopers died in a aircraft crash final night time,” 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, kin and fellow troopers of their unit,” he added. 

The MV-22B Osprey plane, assigned to the II Marine Expeditionary Drive (MEF) US navy 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 employees, Bent Arne Eilertsen, informed public broadcaster NRK on Saturday. The craft appeared to have “main harm,” Eilertsen mentioned.

“What now we have been informed is that it’s an American aircraft with Individuals on board,” Eilertsen added.

A US Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey in Japan, on March 17, 2022.

The U.S. Marine Corps mentioned 4 Marines have 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 navy service is inherently harmful, the protection of our Marines, Sailors, Allies and companions is our prime precedence. Our hearts exit to the households affected by these occasions. The incident is at the moment beneath 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 assist of all first responders, the Norwegian Armed Forces, and Allies and companions that contributed numerous property and other people within the ongoing efforts,” the assertion additionally mentioned.

Earlier the Marine Corps mentioned the plane was collaborating in Train Chilly Response 2022. According to NATO’s website, Chilly Response 2022 is a long-planned train bringing collectively NATO allies and their companions which goals to check their means to work collectively in chilly climate circumstances.

“This yr’s train was introduced over eight months in the past,” the NATO website mentioned. “It’s not linked to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine, which NATO is responding to with preventive, proportionate and non-escalatory measures.”

Unhealthy climate means search crews have to entry the location by land, with rescuers utilizing snowmobiles to achieve 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, situated north of the Arctic Circle, the Norwegian Joint Rescue Coordination Middle (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.

Because of the poor climate, they are going to most definitely make their strategy to the crash website on Sunday, in accordance with NRK.

CNN’s Jamie Crawford contributed to this report.

[ad_2]
Source link