2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash facts for kids

Wreckage of the accident

The 2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash occurred on 10 April 2010 when a Tupolev Tu-154M aircraft of the Polish Air Force crashed in the city of Smolensk, Russia, killing all 96 people on board. These included the President of Poland Lech Kaczyński and his wife Maria; the former President of Poland in exile Ryszard Kaczorowski, 18 members of the Polish parliament, and relatives of victims of the Katyn massacre.

They were en route from Warsaw to attend an event marking the 70th anniversary of the massacre. The site is about 19 kilometres (12 mi) west of Smolensk. The pilots attempted to land at Smolensk North Airport, a former military airbase, in thick fog that reduced visibility to about 500 metres (1,600 ft). The aircraft was too low as it approached the runway as a result of confusing instructions from the traffic controler. Striking trees in the fog, it rolled upside down, struck the ground, broke apart, and eventually came to rest 200 metres (660 ft) short of the runway in a wooded area.

• "Findings of the Interstate Aviation Committee Safety Investigation of the Accident involving Tu-154M aircraft tail number 101 of the Republic of Poland on April 2010 near Smolensk "Severny" aerodrome." (Archive) Interstate Aviation Committee - Comprehensive link with reports and updates
• "Об окончательных результатах работы Технической комиссии Межгосударственного авиационного комитета по расследованию катастрофы самолета Ту-154М бортовой номер 101 Республики Польша, произошедшей 10 апреля 2010 г. в районе аэродрома Смоленск "Северный"." (Archive) Interstate Aviation Committee - Comprehensive link with reports and updates

Images for kids

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  Russian servicemen, accompanied by a policeman, twist bulbs into the approach lights of Smolensk North Airport's runway, hours after the crash of the Tu-154

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  101, the aircraft involved in the accident, seen in 2008

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  101 landing at Prague Airport less than two days before the accident

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  Crowds on the Royal Route, Warsaw

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  Flowers and candles in front of Lublin town hall

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  Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin in church

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  Improvised memorial at the Russian crash site

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  United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lays a wreath at the Katyn Cross

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  Countries with official mourning

See also

In Spanish: Accidente del Tu-154 de la Fuerza Aérea de Polonia para niños