A nation in mourning: Poland's president and wife among 97 dead as their plane crashes in Russia

Daily Mail ^ | April 11, 2010 | Mail Foreign Service

[myknowledge]

• Pilot error blamed as witnesses report three or four attempts to land in thick fog
• At least 97 dead after plane came down in woodland
• Army chief and national bank supremo also killed in disaster
• London-based Polish parish priest among the dead

Poland declared a week of national mourning last night after the president and 88 other members of the country's political and military elite were killed in a plane crash in Russia.

The disaster occurred as the aircraft made a fourth attempt to land in thick fog at a military airport close to the western Russian city of Smolensk.

President Lech Kaczynski and his party were on their way to a ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre - the slaughter of more than 20,000 Poles by the Soviet secret police and an event that has soured relations between the two countries for decades.

[myknowledge]

'A black day for Poland': The death toll included the country's President and wife, its central bank head and the country's military chief along with other senior government and military figures

In pieces: The wreckage of the Polish president's plane lies in woodland near Smolensk airport in Russia

Wreckage: The fuselage of the plane lies in woodland near Smolensk airport

A mourner in Hammersmith, west London, lays a tribute to parish priest Reverend Canon Bronislaw Gostomski, who was killed in this morning's plane crash

Grief: A huge crowd of mourners gather in front of the Presidential Palace to pay tribute to late Polish President Lech Kaczynski, in Warsaw, Poland, today

Tributes: Thousands of Poles flooded the streets around Warsaw's presidential palace on hearing news of the plane crash which killed Lech Kaczynski and his wife Maria

A black day for Poland: National Bank President Slawomir Skrzypek, left, and the Army chief of staff, Gen. Franciszek Gagor both died on board the plane

Dead: Polish President Lech Kaczynski and wife Maria were among 97 who perished in this morning's plane crash

Scene: A plane carrying the Polish president crashed on landing at Smolensk airport

It is truly a black day for the Republic of Poland, and the Polish people.

RIP His Excellency Lech Kaczynski, President of the Republic of Poland, 1949-2010.

[Matt_Rel]

Yet another Katyn. Poland lost its elite again. Irretrievable!

I'm going to add the name of  'KACZYNSKI Lech' on a ballot this autumn election and put a cross next to it. Sorry, I don't give a damn for other candidates above...

My ballot may be officially invalid, but it makes no sense. This time for sure I'll vote by heart, not hands and brain.

 

Matt from Poland (one of those from the pictures above)

[AmericanInTokyo]

Candidate-for-Sainthood Pope John Paul II is welcoming a great many of wonderful fellow Poles today, in a far better place, IMHO.

R.I.P., strength and courage to those who will takeover the reigns of state, political and military and may Great Poland prevail always!

[Seruzawa]

Very convenient for Putin, eh?

[Candor7]

Well I wonder who is next? Could it be any certain person we would like to see gone? LOL.

We could give Putin a list. Man, the guy is some slick.

I mean 4 times n approach and no diversion? Something strange happened here.

[Just Lori]

I send prayers for the people of my Grandfather’s home.