Washington: A US military aircraft with four people on board that said to have crashed in northern Norway on Friday has sustained major damage, according to authorities.
They said the incident occurred during NATO exercises on Friday. The MV-22B Osprey aircraft, assigned to the II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) US military unit, was on a training mission in Nordland County, northern Norway on Friday, according to the Norwegian Armed Forces, CNN reported.
“The rescue helicopter has made observations and sees major damage to the aircraft,” Bent Arne Eilertsen, Nordland police chief of staff, told public broadcaster NRK on Saturday.
“At 2:15 am (local time) Saturday, ground crews approach the area where the aircraft is located. What we have been told is that it is an American plane with Americans on board.
“Precipitation, avalanche danger, wind and darkness make such a rescue operation demanding,” he said. The Norwegian police could not make any contact with the aircraft, according to police.
Norway’s Safety Investigation Authority and National Criminal Investigation Service will arrive in Bodo, north of the Arctic Circle, on Saturday to start their investigation at the town’s airport. Due to the poor weather, they will most likely make their way to the crash site on Sunday, NRK reported.
The US Marine Corps said, “We are grateful for their efforts and will help them with this search and rescue in all possible ways.”
