Four US soldiers killed after military aircraft crashes in Norway during NATO exercise

FOUR US soldiers have been killed after their military aircraft crashed in Norway during a NATO exercise. The country’s prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre expressed his “deepest sympathies” to the families and colleagues of the crew that died during drills in a remote region of Norway on Friday. GettyThe V-22 Osprey aircraft was taking part in a Nato military exercise when it was reported missing[/caption] Rescue teams reached the crash site early Saturday morning after helicopters were unable to land due to poor weather conditions. The area had been battered by gale-force winds and heavy rains while rescue crews faced a risk of avalanches. Støre wrote on Twitter: “It is with great sadness we have received the message that four American soldiers died in a plane crash last night. “The soldiers participated in the NATO exercise Cold Response. MORE ON NATO HARD 'TRUTH' Zelensky admits Ukraine may NEVER join Nato due to warmongering Putin ARMED FORCES The world's largest military - from China to United States “Our deepest sympathies go to the soldiers’ families, relatives and fellow soldiers in their unit.” An investigation has been launched into the crash but it has been slowed down by bad weather. The MV-22B Osprey aircraft was taking part in a NATO military exercise when it was reported missing shortly before 6.30pm local time on Friday. The US Marine Corps plane, which was on a ‘Cold Response’ training exercise, was due to land at 6pm. Most read in The Sun SEXUAL HEALING My hubby watches me 'have sex' with other men, says Catherine Tyldesley VLAD'S GOING ON? Moment Putin has speech mysteriously cut off during rally in Russia REAL DEAL Chelsea draw nightmare Real Madrid clash in Champions League quarters SPOT THE SIGNS Parents warned of highly contagious ‘Victorian’ disease BANANAS IN PYJAMAS I had a ‘terrible sleeper’ toddler until I discovered a 14p trick NOT WRIGHT Ian Wright launches X-rated defence of Rashford after confrontation with fans A rescue helicopter and a Norwegian military Orion plane searching the area spotted the wreckage from the air after receiving an emergency signal. Nordland police chief of staff, Bent Eilertsen, said: “We’ve discovered an aircraft that has crashed. “We’ve seen no sign of life.” He added: “We’ve been told it’s an American aircraft with four Americans on board.” Because of the bad weather, the rescue aircraft could not land. Instead, police and rescue services were trying to reach the site by land, but it was unclear how long this could take. Mr Eilertsen said: “It’s dark, the weather conditions are bad and there is a risk of avalanches.” A spokesperson for Norway’s Joint Rescue Coordination Centres said earlier: “We have made a find from the air. “We found it after an emergency signal was received.”