On that day on board Tu-154M were president Lech Kaczyński with her spouse, the last president of Poland in exile, the most crucial military commanders, clergymen, politicians, social activists. The state delegation flew to Russia to commemorate the victims of the Katyn crime. Under Smolensk, Tupoliev fell to the ground. April 10, 2010 is simply a date that entered the memory of Poles.
15 years ago at 8.41 a.m. of Polish government time Tu-154M with side number 101 approached landing at Smolensk-Sierierna Airport. It was flown by a Polish delegation with president Lech Kaczyński and the first woman to participate in the 70th anniversary celebrations Katyn crime. They were to pay tribute to Polish soldiers at their execution site in Katyń Forest. But that did not happen. A device belonging to the no longer existing 36 peculiar Transport Regiment crashed, approaching landing. In the crash, everyone on board died – 96 people.
They lost their lives. President Lech Kaczyński and Maria Kaczyńska, last president of Poland in exile Ryszard Kaczorowski, politicians, parliamentarians, representatives of the government, the planet of culture and science, as well as the most crucial commanders of the Polish Army: General Franciszek Gągor, Head of the General Staff of the Polish Army; General Bronisław Kwiatkowski, Operational Commander; Gen. defends Tadeusz Buk, Commander of the Land Army; General Pilot Andrzej Błasik, Air Force Commander; adm. fleet Andrzej Karweta, Commander of the Navy; General Weapons Vladimir Potasiński, Commander of peculiar Forces; Gen. Dyw. Kazimierz Gilarski, Commander of the Warsaw Garrison; representatives of the military clergy: Fr Bishop-Gen. Broni Tadeusz Płoski, Polish Army Field Bishop; Archbishop Gen. Miron Chodakowski, Orthodox average of the Polish Army; Fr. Gen. Brig. Adam Pilch, p.o. evangelical military bishop; Fr. Colonel Jan Osiński, Secretary of the Field Bishop, as well as the crew of the aircraft – Major pilot Arkadiusz Protasiukthe crew commander; Colonel pilot Robert Grzywna, the second pilot; Capt. pilot Artur Ziętek, navigator; Mr Andrzej Michalak, on-board techniques; and flight attendants — Natalia Maria Januszko, Barbara the Macian and Justyna Moniuszko.
"April 10, 2010 is simply a tragic date for Poles in our history. In the plane crash, president Lech Kaczyński and his wife died. Our loved ones, co-workers, friends died" wrote Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defence on the 14th anniversary of the disaster on social media. He recalled that everyone was flying to Katyn to pay tribute to the victims of mass executions by the NKVD in 1940. Recalling the disaster victims, he besides added: “Although they have gone, they proceed in our thoughts. We remember them in our prayers all day. Hello to Their Memory!’
Causes of the Smolensk disaster set up the Commission for the Investigation of Aviation Accidents, chaired by Jerzy Miller, then Minister of Interior and Administration. The study by the committee stated that the aircraft had fallen below the minimum level of descent resulting in the collision of the device with trees leading to the gradual demolition of the Tu-154M structure. The investigation conducted just after the crash did not show that 3rd parties contributed.
15 years ago, on the day of the Smolensk disaster, a national mourning was declared, which lasted until 18 April. A day earlier in Piłsudski Square in Warsaw, state mourning ceremonies were held in honor of the victims of the disaster, and on 18 April the presidential couple Lech and Maria Kaczyński rested in the crypt of the Cracow Cathedral in Wawel. The funerals of the victims of the Smolensk disaster were held until 28 April.
Millions of Poles, government and self-government authorities remember the most tragic catastrophe in Poland's history. Many monuments and plaques were created to commemorate those who died on April 10, 2010 under Smolensk. On each anniversary of the disaster, there are calls for remembrance and mass in their intention. This year the ceremony with the participation of president Andrzej Duda will be held in Krakow and Warsaw. Under Wawel after the morning mass, the holy superior of the armed forces will lay a wreath before the sarcophagus of the presidential pair. In the capital there will be celebrations at the monument of the victims of the Smolensk catastrophe in the Military Cemetery in Powązki, in front of the Presidential Palace and in front of the monument of the Smolensk Tragedy Victims in 2010 in Piłsudski Square. At 19.00 a.m., a Mass for the victims of the disaster will be held in the archaeological basilica of St. John the Baptist.
In the morning, at the time of the crash, a delegation from the Polish embassy in Moscow intends to lay flowers at the stone set close the birch tree at the airport in Smolensk. Then the Polish ambassador and his accompanying persons intend to go to Katyn Cemetery.
