A USMC MV-22B Osprey, belonging to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 (VMM-261) “Raging Bulls” crashed in Norway during Exercise COLD RESPONSE 22 on Friday, Mar. 18, 2022. Flying as “GHOST 31”, the tilt-rotor aircraft was involved in a training mission in Nordland County; according to the Norwegian Armed Forces, it was supposed to proceed north, to Bodø, where it was scheduled to land just before 18:00LT.
The aircraft crashed in Gråtådalen in Beiarn, south of Bodø. A search and rescue mission was launched by the Norwegian authorities and at 01.30AM LT on Saturday night, the police arrived at the crash site.
The police in Nordland County confirmed Saturday morning that the crew of four were killed in the incident. The Norwegian police, supported by a Bell 412 helicopter, immediately launched an investigation and notified the Accident Investigation Board Norway (AIBN). The weather at the crash site was reported to be poor.
The bodies of the four crew members of GHOST 31 were retrieved from the accident site by a Sea King rescue helicopter from Royal Norwegian Air Force 330 Squadron. According to the Norwegian authorities, the deceased will remain in Bodø until transportation back to the U.S. is arranged.
