Global General

Polish president dies in Russian plane crash

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-04-10 17:14

Polish president dies in Russian plane crash

Image from video footage shows a firefighter working to extinguish the flames from the wreckage of a Polish government Tupolev Tu-154 aircraft that crashed near Smolensk airport April 10, 2010. There were no survivors in the crash of the plane carrying Polish President Lech Kaczynski in Russia on April 10, Polish state news agency PAP reported, quoting local officials in Smolensk. The Polish central bank governor Slawomir Skrzypek was also on board the plane, the bank's press office told Reuters.[Photo/Agencies]

Reason:
Pilot error may have caused Polish crash

Reactions:
Polish president dies in Russian plane crash Poland:
Polish govt to hold special meeting on plane crash

Russia:
President Dmitry Medvedev rushes emergency situations minister to plane crash site

Backgrounder:
Polish president dies in Russian plane crash Recent Tupolev-154 crashes
April 10, 2010: The Polish presidential plane crashes on approach to Smolensk airport, Russia, killing all on board.

July 15, 2009: A Caspian Airlines Tu-154 flying from Iran to Armenia nosedives into a field, killing 168 people. >>More

Polish president dies in Russian plane crash Profile: Polish President Lech Kaczynski

MOSCOW: Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his wife died Saturday along with 130 others when their plane crashed while coming in for a landing in western Russia, officials said.

The governor of the Smolensk region, where the crash took place about 11 a.m. (0700 GMT), said no one survived.

"The Polish presidential plane did not make it to the runway while landing. Tentative findings indicate that it hit the treetops and fell apart," Sergei Anufriev said on state news channel Rossiya-24. "Nobody has survived the disaster."

The Polish foreign ministry confirmed that Kaczynski and his wife were aboard the plane.

The head of Russia's top investigative body, Sergei Markin, said there were a total of 132 people on the plane, a Tu-154.

Kaczynski was flying to Russia for events marking the 70th anniversary of the massacre of thousands of Polish officers by Soviet secret police in Katyn and elsewhere during World War II.

The presidential plane was a Soviet-built Tupolev TU154M, at least 20 years old. The Army chief of staff, Gen. Franciszek Gagor, National Bank President Slawomir Skrzypek and Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Kremoer were on the passenger list.

In Warsaw, Prime Minister Donald Tusk called an extraordinary meeting of his Cabinet.

Kaczynski, 60, became president in December 2005 after defeating Tusk in that year's presidential vote.

Slideshow of file photos

The nationalist conservative was the twin brother of Poland's opposition leader, former Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski.

Kaczynski had said he would seek a second term in presidential elections this fall. He was expected to face an uphill struggle against Parliament speaker Bronislaw Komorowski, the candidate of Tusk's governing Civic Platform party.

According to the constitution, Komorowski would take over presidential duties.

Kaczynski's wife, Maria, was an economist. They had a daughter, Marta, and two granddaughters.