4 American Marines killed during NATO exercise in Norway; unrelated to conflict in Ukraine
Four U.S. Marines died in a plane crash while participating in a NATO training exercise that is unrelated to the conflict in Ukraine, the Norwegian prime minister said Saturday.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere tweeted that the plane crash occurred overnight while troops were participating in the NATO Cold Response exercise.
"Our deepest sympathies go to the soldiers' families, relatives and fellow soldiers in their unit," Gahr Stoere said in the statement.
The Norwegian Armed Forces said in a statement that the aircraft had a crew of four who were confirmed dead Saturday morning. The cause was under investigation, but Norwegian police reported bad weather in the area.
TRAINING FATALITIES: 2 Marines killed, 17 injured in military vehicle rollover accident in North Carolina
The II Marine Expeditionary Force on Saturday tweeted that four Marines are now listed in "Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown" following an aviation "incident" during the Cold Response exercise near Bodo, Norway. The incident involved a Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey aircraft.
"The search and rescue operations have transitioned to Norwegian local police authorities with support from Norwegian Armed Forces military units," a II MEF press release shared to Twitter reads. "As a matter of policy, identities of service members are not released until 24-hours after all next-of-kin notifications have been completed."
The U.S. Marines also confirmed on Twitter Friday evening that an "incident" occurred involving a MV-22B Osprey while training in Norway.
"The cause of the incident is under investigation, and additional details will be provided as available," the Marines' tweet reads.
The Cold Response exercise will continue despite the accident, the Norwegian Armed Forces said. The NATO drills in Norway are biannual and unrelated to the war in Ukraine. This year, the exercises began on March 14 and end April 1. About 30,000 troops, 220 aircraft and 50 vessels from 27 countries are participating. Finland and Sweden, both non-NATO members, are also participating.
USA TODAY reached out to the II Marine Expeditionary Force and the Pentagon for comment.
LOCALS MOURN: Four U.S. Marines assigned to Camp Lejeune died in Norway during NATO training exercise
The four Marines were stationed near Jacksonville, N.C. at Camp Lejeune.
The Daily News reported that members of Onslow County's civic affairs committee honored the Marines on Saturday with a wreath at the Jacksonville Freedom Fountain. The fountain, which honors Onslow community members who served in the military, was placed in mourning status; only the center Freedom Jet will operate.
It's the second training exercise where Marines died since the beginning of the year. Two Marines were killed and 17 others injured on Jan. 19 after a 7-ton military vehicle rolled over in Jacksonville, North Carolina.
Contributing: Associated Press; John Orona, The (Jacksonville, N.C.) Daily News
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NATO: 4 US Marines die in Norway plane crash; no Ukraine relation
