Four American Soldiers Killed in an Aircraft Crash in Norway Because of Severe Weather

Four American soldiers were killed after their military aircraft crashed due to severe weather in northern Norway on Friday, March 18.

The incident came at a time when the soldiers were conducting a military exercise with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

The four United States Marines killed in the crash were inside an American MV-22B Osprey aircraft when harsh weather conditions, including rainfall, and strong winds, caused the crash in Nordland County during the evening hours of Friday.

Four US Marines Killed

(Photo : Terje Bendiksby/AFP via Getty Images)
A separate aircraft crash in Norway back in 2019.

The US Marines aircraft, which belongs to the U.S. Marine Corps, left the Norwegian Air Force Base before the fatal aircraft crash.

The four American marines were tasked to complete a NATO military exercise known as the "Cold Response" training mission.

The aircraft with only a crew of four was assigned to the Second Marine Expeditionary Force US military unit to conduct the exercise in Nordland county in northern Norway, according to the Norwegian Armed Forces, as cited by CNN.

The aircraft was supposedly headed to the city of Bodo but was reported missing at 6:26 p.m. CET (local time) on Friday.

Local authorities only found the aircraft wreckage in the county's Beiarn municipality the following morning.

Norwegian civil authorities and the Norwegian Armed Forces took part in the search-and-rescue operations of the four US marines.

No other surviving crew members were found inside the MV-22B Osprey aircraft.

Also Read: Pilot Killed After Plane Crashes into House in California

Investigation is Underway

Although initial assessments indicated harsh weather conditions caused the aircraft crash, an investigation is underway.

There were no immediate reports on whether the crash was caused by a technical malfunction or human error.

Both the Norwegian and US organizations are conducting the investigation, according to the U.S. Marine Corps via CNN. However, weather reports suggested that there was a severe weather phenomenon at the time of the aircraft crash.

Severe Weather Conditions

Severe weather conditions occurred due to the passage of the storm in Norway on Friday evening, according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Mary Gilbert.

The meteorological report showed that air visibility dropped dramatically when rainfall and strong winds battered the area, said Gilbert.

The AccuWeather report estimated that the time of the helicopter crash coincided with harsh weather conditions.

The occurrence of such weather in the Norwegian region is common since it is tied to the climate of the Arctic Ocean, causing winter-like and freezing conditions.

Snowfall may have also contributed to the crash; since northern Norway is known for its arctic climate, cold temperatures, and heavy snow, as per the Visit Norway travel site.

NATO Military Exercise

The Cold Response training mission is a semi-annual NATO military exercise hosted by Norway.

The NATO drill is unrelated to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, according to the Associated Press, as cited by CBS News.

The drill started in 2006, long before the said Russo-Ukrainian war.

Approximately 30,000 soldiers from over 25 countries are reportedly participating in the said inter-governmental military exercises.

220 aircraft and 50 vessels from 27 countries are also involved, as per CBS News.

The US government increased its military presence in Europe, especially near the Ukrainian border, since regional tensions arose between Russia and Ukraine.

The US logistical and non-offensive military participation in the continent also increased since Russia started to invade Ukraine on February 24.

Related Article: Russia's Attack on Ukraine Raises Risk of Nuclear War: How Bad Will a Nuclear Fallout Be?