What happened in the 2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash?
Q: What happened in the 2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash?
A: A Tupolev Tu-154M aircraft of the Polish Air Force crashed in the city of Smolensk, Russia, killing all 96 people on board, including the President of Poland Lech Kaczyński and his wife Maria, and other high-ranking officials.
Q: What was the purpose of the flight?
A: The passengers were en route from Warsaw to attend an event marking the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre.
Q: Where did the crash occur?
A: The crash occurred in the city of Smolensk, Russia, about 19 kilometers west of the city.
Q: How did the crash happen?
A: The pilots attempted to land at Smolensk North Airport in thick fog, and were given confusing instructions from the traffic controller. The plane was too low as it approached the runway, and ultimately struck trees and crashed.
Q: What was the visibility like during the attempted landing?
A: The thick fog reduced visibility to about 500 meters, or 1600 feet.
Q: How far did the aircraft come to a rest from the runway?
A: The aircraft came to rest 200 meters, or 660 feet, short of the runway in a wooded area.
Q: Who were some of the other victims on board the aircraft besides the President of Poland?
A: Other victims included the former President of Poland in exile, Ryszard Kaczorowski, 18 members of the Polish parliament, and relatives of victims from the Katyn massacre.
