4 U.S. troops killed in Norway during NATO exercise unrelated to Ukraine war

The cause of the plane crash was under investigation, but Norwegian police reported bad weather in the area.

Four U.S. soldiers were killed in a plane crash in a Norwegian town in the Arctic Circle during a NATO exercise unrelated to the Ukraine war, Norway’s prime minister said Saturday.

Jonas Gahr Stoere tweeted that they were killed in the crash on Friday night. The cause was under investigation, but Norwegian police reported bad weather in the area.

“The soldiers participated in the NATO exercise Cold Response,” Gahr Stoere said. “Our deepest sympathies go to the soldiers’ families, relatives and fellow soldiers in their unit.”

The plane was a V-22B Osprey that belongs to the U.S. Marine Corps, Norway’s armed forces said.

“The aircraft had a crew of four and was out on a training mission in Nordland County” in northern Norway, according to a statement.

It was on its way north to Bodoe, where it was scheduled to land just before 6 p.m. Friday. The plane crashed in Graetaedalen in Beiarn, south of Bodoe. Police said a search and rescue mission was launched immediately. At 1:30 a.m. Saturday, the police arrived at the scene and confirmed that the crew of four had died.

“We can confirm an incident has occurred involving a Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey aircraft,” the U.S. Marines said in a tweet. “The cause of the incident is under investigation, and additional details will be provided as available.”