‘No life signs’ after US military plane crashes during NATO exercise – World News

A US Marine Corps military aircraft taking part in a NATO military exercise has crashed in northern Norway with no sign of life.

A US military plane with four people on board has crashed in northern Norway with no signs of life, local police said.

The US Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey aircraft was taking part in a NATO military exercise called Cold Response when it was reported missing at 18:26 (GMT), Norway’s Joint Rescue Coordination Centers (JRCC) said.

A Norwegian military rescue helicopter and Orion aircraft searching the area spotted the wreckage from the air at 20:17 (GMT) after receiving a distress signal.

“We discovered a plane that had crashed. We didn’t see any sign of life,” said Bent Eilertsen, Nordland Police Chief of Staff.

“We were told it was an American plane with four Americans on board.”

Because of the bad weather, the rescue plane could not land. Instead, police and emergency services attempted to reach the site by land, but it was unclear how long this would take.

“It’s dark, the weather conditions are bad and there is a risk of avalanches,” said Eilertsen.

The aircraft was on a training exercise and was scheduled to land around 5 p.m. (GMT). The weather was bad in the area and conditions were deteriorating.

The aircraft took part in NATO’s Cold Response military exercise, which was attended by thousands of allied and partner troops “to test their ability to work together in cold weather across Norway — on land, in the air and at sea.”

Nato said of the Cold Response exercise, “In the coming weeks, Allied and partner forces will be traversing the vast wilderness, conducting live fire drills, diving into freezing lakes and more.

“It’s about training vital skills and making sure our armed forces are prepared to respond to any threat or crisis – and to protect our countries and people.

“Cold Response 2022 brings together allies from Europe and North America and demonstrates the enduring transatlantic bond at the heart of NATO.”

There have been several fatal crashes involving V-22 Ospreys in recent years.

Three US Marines were killed when an MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft crashed off the coast of Australia in 2017, they say.

Then, in 2000, a V-22 Navy tiltrotor Osprey crashed in Arizona, killing 19 people on board.