Polish President, wife die in plane crash

Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his wife died Saturday along with more than 80 others when their plane crashed while coming in for a landing in western Russia, officials said.

  • Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his wife died Saturday along with more than 80 others when their plane crashed while coming in for a landing in western Russia, officials said.
    Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his wife died Saturday along with more than 80 others when their plane crashed while coming in for a landing in western Russia, officials said.
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  • Reports suggest that The Army chief of staff, Gen. Franciszek Gagor, National Bank President Slawomir Skrzypek and Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Kremoer were on the passenger list.
    Reports suggest that The Army chief of staff, Gen. Franciszek Gagor, National Bank President Slawomir Skrzypek and Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Kremoer were on the passenger list.
  • The Tu-154 plane crash occurred about 1.5 km from Smolensk airport, about 400 kilometers (275 miles) west of Moscow in foggy conditions. "It clipped the tops of the trees, crashed down and broke into pieces," the governor of the Smolensk region, Sergei Antufiev, told a news network by telephone.
    The Tu-154 plane crash occurred about 1.5 km from Smolensk airport, about 400 kilometers (275 miles) west of Moscow in foggy conditions. "It clipped the tops of the trees, crashed down and broke into pieces," the governor of the Smolensk region, Sergei Antufiev, told a news network by telephone.
  • The head of Russia's top investigative body, Sergei Markin, said there were a total of 132 people on the plane, a Tu-154.
    The head of Russia's top investigative body, Sergei Markin, said there were a total of 132 people on the plane, a Tu-154.
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  • 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.
    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.<br/><br/>According to the constitution, Komorowski would take over presidential duties.<br/><br/>Kaczynski's wife, Maria, was an economist. They had a daughter, Marta, and two granddaughters.
    The presidential plane was a Soviet-built Tupolev TU154M, at least 20 years old.

    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.
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