Polish Government Tu154M crash
 

Sky News - Breaking news that his A/c has crashed on approach in Russia. No further details yet.

Tu154? :(

BBC News saying 87 people killed in the crash, no official report though.

Not good!

BBC Update
 

BBC report as follows -
Russian media reported that 87 people were killed in the crash, but it is not yet known if anyone survived.
The plane was reportedly heading to an airport in the western city of Smolensk when it crashed

It looks that they crashed 1,5km from the runway... :( many highly ranked polish politics were on board... witness said that the A/C had hit trees with left wing during go-around... press say that 87 are dead

Just this brief so far in the U.S - but it is still wee hours here.

Polish president's plane crashes in Russia: official - Europe- msnbc.com

No, scratch that - Google's robots just woke up. A couple of dozen links in the past 5 minutes, include this PPRUNE thread.
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102 - Poland - Air Force Tupolev Tu-154 Aircraft - Brno - Tu?any Photo @ Airplane-Pictures.net

Polish TV
 

The Polish TV informs it was on final in thick fog, then tried a go-around and hit the trees.

The TV reporter in the airport says the visibility was extremely limited to 100-150 meters.

Tonden

On the way to the 70 year Katyn memorial.

What is more giefing, our very old VIP aircrafts were to be replaced few years ago, but due to funds shortage, those old planes were only "refurbished".

They crashed at military airfield near Smolensk. Latest news speculation are that there's no approach guidances. Like during polish military CASA crash, couple years ago. According to polish/russian news agencies 87 ppl (all aboard) lost they lives. Russian news agency ItarTASS website right now is not working.
BBC News.


btw. moderator nice work

What I do not understand is why such a group of people can be on one plane.
As a GM of a middle size company I cannot take the same plane with my CFO.

Tonden

Is there any confirmation on the A/C type?

132 people
TU154M
propably this one:
Photos: Tupolev Tu-154M Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net

Not yet but almost certainly one of the state Tu-154s (two, I think they have, no?)

Yea its the Governement TU-154.

Unbelievable.

Out of all the places too, Smolensk on the 70th anniversary of the Katyń massacre, the VIPs of the Polish delegation, in Russia, in a Russian made aircraft...

Showing the first shots of the wreckage now.... scattered in the forest.. doesnt look good.

AC type
 

Sky reporting it was Tupolev Tu-154

I think the BBC reporter in Russia just said it was a TU-154

Tu 154.

No full list of passengers.

Capacity 132, possible 100, confirmed 87 dead.

Polish President with his wife.
Central Bank Governor.
...

...

I think at this stage to make a link with aircraft type and age with the facts as they are currently known makes no sense. :ugh:

Yes, TV says it was TU-154M.
Now they report 1 km visibility and very low clouds.

Tonden

Depending of course on the cause, I guess this could have happened with another type.
Nonetheless it is dissapointing to see a country that escaped the shackles of communism so long ago still persevering with an aircraft that has such a poor safety record.