plane crash near Smolensk, Polish president on board
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8612825.stm

the total number of passengers is unknown, some sources claim that 132 ppl were on board.

unbelievable....

Words are just that, but my heart and prayers go out to your entire nation tonight.

Very sad tragedy. My thoughts are with the victims.

But maybe something positive can come from that. With Kazcynski gone the relationship between Poland and Germany might become what it should have been for the last two decades: One of trust and friendship.

What a sad and terrible tragedy :nope:

I never supported Lech Kaczynski but he was the President of my country. All the people onboard the plane had families, friends. Great tragedy:(

my prayers go out to the friends and familys of the deceased.

One of the flight recorders has recently been retrieved from the crash site.
P.S. My condolences to all involved.

Just heard on BBC World that Vladimir Putin will personally head the investigations into the plane crash!
I may be out of the loop here perhaps but, why would HE be personally heading this investigation?

This is terrible...
My sympathy to the polish.

If Putin wants to be in charge is problably he wants to show that for Russia or him this was very significative. I see it that way.

To all those who lost someone dear, you have my condolences. To the nation of Poland, having lost a leader, you have my sympathy.

Perhaps all can remember that no matter your "political" view, every person on that plane was held in someone's heart, and that the loss causes pain. Take a moment to share that pain and send a little love to those this tragedy has personally impacted without concern for the rest - there will be time for the rest later.

As for Russia investigating - it happened within their borders. Let us give those who have lost a day before we start with conspiracy theories, eh?

Or at least put them in their own thread. My condolences to the Polish people.

My apologies.

Condolences to the Poles here, and to the families of the victims.

Now we know the exact number of casualities - 96 (88 passengers and 8 crew members.) No one survived. Tu-154M crashed during 4th attempt to land. It hit the trees in heavy fog, few hundred meters away from the airfield. So a mistake of the pilot and bad weather conditions are most probably cause.

In crash died our president, Lech Kaczyñski, first lady Maria, along with 12 members of parlament, 2 senators, 3 deputy ministers, and many others parlament and government highly officials.

Also 3 persons from presidential staff, 9 priests (most of them were chaplains), 6 army generals, 15 WWII combatants and 8 secret service guards. :(


Here in Poland, we all (no matter of our political preferences) regreat that loss. Irreplaceable, extraordinary persons died there. :cry: :cry:


(sorry for bad english)

A black day for Poland.