Poland is in a state of national mourning after yesterday’s tragic air disaster in Russia, which wiped out a fair number of their national government. The Polish president, Lech Kaczynski was killed, along with his wife other key members of the political, financial and military areas of his cabinet. They were amongst the 90 people killed when their ageing plane, the Tupolev-154 crashed into a forest full of trees whilst approaching Smolensk airport.
In thick and dense fog, some media sources in Russia are speculating that the pilot of the plane was giving severe warning about the adverse weather and was told to divert the plane to Moscow airport. However, it seems like he may have ignored the advice of air traffic control and attempted to land at Smolensk, as he was so close to reaching the destination. Human error or mechanical failure aside, this is just a side issue to the terrible tragedy that has engulfed a nation. Kaczynski’s body has been flown back to his homeland today, as tributes pour in around a memorial site, set up in the country’s capital, Warsaw. The Polish delegation onboard were flying in from Warsaw to mark the upcoming 70th anniversary of the infamous Katyn massacre of thousands of Poles during WWII by Russian forces, under the darker days of the Soviet Union.
Russian president Vladimir Putin has visited the scene of the crash, and has paid his own tributes to the late-Polish president. He has already confirmed that he will lead an investigation into the crash. It is believed that no-one had any chance of survival, as the plane broke up on impact into several pieces, then burst into flames. The pictures and videos taken shortly afterwards underline the impact and the amount of wreckage spread over the site of the crash. The airliner might have also been in considerable trouble from an early stage, as contact with air traffic control allegedly lost contact with the pilot at least fourteen minutes before it crashed.
Lech Kacyznski was sixty years old and had certainly had his fair share of ups and downs in power. He certainly was a very controversial figure in world politics, especially when he adopted the Law and Justice Party in 2001, with his twin Jaroslaw Kaczynski. He was elected President of the country five years ago and was not afraid to use his strong opinions politically, no matter how much controversy and strife he might bring. As mayor of Warsaw, he twice banned gay parade marches in the city and spoke out of his belief to reintroduce the death penalty. Nevertheless, he made an impact around the world and he will be profoundly missed, especially by his native followers in Poland. This is a shocking national disaster to have engulfed the country, and now needs to rely on its spirit and belief to rebuild itself from this shattering tragedy.
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