Rare tensions between Norway and Sweden over crashed missile
Norway on Tuesday expressed rare irritation with neighbouring Sweden for not immediately warning it about a missile that accidentally crashed on its territory without causing casualties or damage, Hotnews.ro reports.
The rocket was launched from the Esrange space centre in Kiruna in northern Sweden. It crashed on a mountain near the town of Malselv in the far north of Norway, about 10 kilometres from residential areas.
"The crash of such a missile is a very serious incident that can cause significant damage," the Norwegian Foreign Ministry said. "When such a border violation occurs, it is crucial that those responsible immediately inform the relevant Norwegian authorities through the appropriate channels," it added.
The rocket was to be used to conduct weightlessness experiments at an altitude of 250 kilometres.
"Recovery work on the spacecraft is ongoing. They should not start without Norwegian permission, which has not been granted," the Norwegian Foreign Ministry said.
The Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority said it learned about the accident from a statement on Monday from the Swedish Space Corporation.
