Polish President and 94*

Others Killed in Air Crash

by C. L. Cook

Lech Kaczynski's flight from Warswaw to Smolensk, Russia crashed today killing all aboard. The president and a retinue of high officials and family perished en route to ceremonies planned to remember the World War II era massacre in the Katyn Forest, where Soviet secret police slaughtered 22,000 Polish officers.

 

The 70th anniversary remembrance ceremony had drawn criticism in Russia, where for years Nazi responsibility for the massacre was promulgated.

 

Canadian state media, the Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC) reports, others killed in the crash included: the head of the Polish central bank and his wife, Poland's army chief, Franciszek Gagor, Deputy Foreign Minister, Andrzej Kremer, and central bank governor, Slawomir Skrzypek.

 

The crash is said to have occurred in Western Russia as the plane approached for landing in heavy fog.

 

 

 

The aircraft is said to have been a Tupolev Tu-154, reported to be more than 25 years old, and reportedly explode on impact.

 

The Tu-154 has been involved in several crashes over the last five years, and Russia air fleet operator, Aeroflot took the plane out of service last year. 

Canada's prime minister, Stephen Harper released an statement of condolence to Poland, that read in part;

 

"On behalf of the government of Canada and all Canadians, I wish to express my deepest sympathy, and my sincere condolences, to the government and people of Poland on this very sad day."