Polish defence minister insists presidential plane destroyed in mid-air

However, following controversial statements that he made over the weekend, he has now denied that he placed the blame on Russia.

Macierewicz had claimed on Saturday that at Smolensk Poland became “the first great victim of terrorism in the modern conflict,” prompting complaints from Moscow.

“Not at any moment in that statement did I mention any specific state,” Macierewicz said on Wednesday, although he had dwelt on Russia's “attack” on Georgia in the same speech.

However, he said that it is “a fact” that the plane “went to pieces” in mid-air.

All 96 people onboard the Tu-154 plane, including the then president Lech Kaczyński, died during the 10 April 2010 disaster.

Official Polish and Russian reports found that the plane hit trees after flying too low in thick fog. It was concluded that the right wing broke off, although it was found that the plane was not destroyed until it crashed moments later.

Macierewicz has now launched a new investigation into the crash. Opinion polls have invariably found that the majority of Poles do not believe that the disaster was a result of sabotage. A poll carried out by Millward Brown on the fifth anniversary of the crash found that 22 percent believed in the foul play theory. (nh/pk)

Source: PAP