Poland's president and wife among at least 88 dead as their plane crashes in Russia

clipped from www.dailymail.co.uk Polish president Lech Kaczynski and his wife Maria have been killed after their plane crashed on approach to Smolensk airport in western Russia. There were conflicting reports today of the number of people on board the flight. Russian news agencies reported at least 88 people died in the crash near Smolensk airport in western Russia, citing the Russian Emergencies Ministry. They reported 132 people were aboard the Tupolev Tu-154. According to reports, the pilot accelerated as the plane came in to land and at that point lost contact with air traffic control. Shock: Within hours of the tragic news breaking, thousands of Poles took to the streets to mark the passing of their president Tributes: Thousands of Poles flooded the streets around Warsaw's presidential palace on haring news of the plane crash which killed Lech Kaczynski and his wife Maria

Related articles by Zemanta

• Polish President's Plane Crashes in Russia; 87 Dead (nytimes.com)
• Polish president 'in plane crash' (news.bbc.co.uk)
• Polish president, top officials killed in plane crash (nationalpost.com)
• Breaking: Polish president's plane crashes during landing (americablog.com)
• Polish president among 132 dead in jet crash (msnbc.msn.com)

Polish leader, 96 others dead in Russia jet crash

clipped from news.yahoo.com SMOLENSK, Russia – Polish President Lech Kaczynski and some of the country's highest military and civilian leaders died on Saturday when the presidential plane crashed as it came in for a landing in thick fog in western Russia, killing 97, officials said. Russian and Polish officials said there were no survivors on the 26-year-old Tupolev, which was taking the president, his wife and staff to events marking the 70th anniversary of the massacre in Katyn forest of thousands of Polish officers by Soviet secret police. Although initial signs pointed to an accident with no indication of foul play, the death of a Polish president and much of the Polish state and defense establishment in Russia en route to commemorating one of the saddest events in Poland's long, complicated history with Russia, was laden with tragic irony. "This is a great tragedy, a great shock to us all," former president and Solidarity leader Lech Walesa said.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Polish president, top officials killed in plane crash (nationalpost.com)
• Polish president, top officials killed in plane crash (windsorstar.com)
• You: Polish President's Plane Crashes in Russia; 87 Dead (nytimes.com)
• Polish President's Plane Crashes in Russia; 87 Dead (nytimes.com)
• Air Tragedy Kills Poland's President (themoderatevoice.com)