It's of course all over the news. A sad, sad story indeed. I just really hope the truth will also make it's way to the people of the world.
Traffic controllers ordered the pilot to turn the plane around and land in Minsk (Belarus). The military airport in Smolensk does not have sufficient facilities to safely land a passenger plane in thick mist. Although the airport can land commercial airplanes, it can only do so when weather permits. Today, it didn't.
Lech Kaczynski ordered the pilot to ignore the traffic controller's orders. Pilot obeyed and the plane hit trees, broke and caught fire. Resulting in the death of 96 people.
Why would the pilot listen to the president, instead of the traffic controllers? A strange decision indeed, if one knows not what happened in 2008.
Lech Kaczynski then also ordered a pilot to land against traffic controller's orders, because he (Kaczynski) didn't want to land in Tblisi and drive to Georgia by car. That pilot ignored the president's orders and as instructed by traffic control in a neighboring country. That pilot was later publically discredited by Kaczynski. Making the decision of the pilot of today's fatal flight not any better, but maybe more understandable.
A very tragic day in the history of Poland. But maybe just as tragic for the press. I hope the world will not shove this horrific accident into the shoes of the crew. For they also loved their country and were undoubtingly proud to serve their president.
© Fred Händl - 2010
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