I guess it depends on why he ended up landing in a forest (I don't think he was "trying" to land in the forest). Was it something that could have been prevented had the plane been more modern?
Polish president Lech Kaczynski killed in plane crash
- Thread starter Naffa
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I guess it depends on why he ended up landing in a forest (I don't think he was "trying" to land in the forest). Was it something that could have been prevented had the plane been more modern?
What! This is a plane carrying a president, not some third rate passenger aircraft, also 20 years as allready said is not old or unusual.
Soldato
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Was pretty shocked when I heard this on the radio this morning.
He may not have been the most popular president but he was nevertheless the elected representative of the Polish nation - may he and all those onboard rest in peace.
Will be very interesting to see what the data recordings / transcripts of any conversations the blackbox picked up shed on this crash!
He may not have been the most popular president but he was nevertheless the elected representative of the Polish nation - may he and all those onboard rest in peace.
Will be very interesting to see what the data recordings / transcripts of any conversations the blackbox picked up shed on this crash!
It's sad day for all Polish people, including me.
I think this tragedy was happened because of the pressure. President Kaczynski has been known as person giving orders (being onboard) to AirForce One pilot and it was even a subject of national debate, if pilot can take such orders, or not. Nobody knows and probably will never know how it was this time, but so many important people (including generals and Army Chief) inside must have been influencing pilot to land on time just to attend 70th anniversary commemorations of mass murder of 22k Polish soldiers in 1940. Even in heavy fog, even at fourth landing attempt (which is normal during war, in military planes, not civilian ones where second attempt equals change of route to next airport). I think it was that "crew fault" that Russians say.
Someone said "too many eggs in one plane". Maybe. Taking a risk is Polish national feature. Some time ago it was another government helicopter crash with Prime Minister and few other people onboard, but thanks to high pilot's airmanship all survived, pilot has been found innocent. I think "the top" has been delighted so much with combat pilot's capabilities that they all believed pilot is always able to save their lives. Stupid and sad, but true.
I've read pilot didn't know proper altitude (plane cut trees at 2.5m height before unsuccessful climbing trial). If it's a matter of old plane and such instruments like altimeter can't be replaced - so I think newer plane would help, but anyone can be sure now, how much it would prevent the crash. As everyone knows, newer planes use navi systems like ILS which Smolensk airport doesn't support, so it might make new plane as much helpless as old one.
If someone is not familiar with Poland, I have to explain Poland is an European Union member and there's no risk to any "military hunt", "dangerous situation" or other non-democratic mechanism. It's just deep political crysis, and simple human tragedy. Two of candidates for upcoming presidential elections were killed, so speaker of the lower house of parliament, Bronislaw Komorowski, would be acting president temporarily. By the way, he was another candidate which sounds terrible at this occassion as I believe no one would like to be elected in such situation.
One is for sure - all has been changed in Poland.
Deep condolences to everyone involved.
I think this tragedy was happened because of the pressure. President Kaczynski has been known as person giving orders (being onboard) to AirForce One pilot and it was even a subject of national debate, if pilot can take such orders, or not. Nobody knows and probably will never know how it was this time, but so many important people (including generals and Army Chief) inside must have been influencing pilot to land on time just to attend 70th anniversary commemorations of mass murder of 22k Polish soldiers in 1940. Even in heavy fog, even at fourth landing attempt (which is normal during war, in military planes, not civilian ones where second attempt equals change of route to next airport). I think it was that "crew fault" that Russians say.
Someone said "too many eggs in one plane". Maybe. Taking a risk is Polish national feature. Some time ago it was another government helicopter crash with Prime Minister and few other people onboard, but thanks to high pilot's airmanship all survived, pilot has been found innocent. I think "the top" has been delighted so much with combat pilot's capabilities that they all believed pilot is always able to save their lives. Stupid and sad, but true.
I've read pilot didn't know proper altitude (plane cut trees at 2.5m height before unsuccessful climbing trial). If it's a matter of old plane and such instruments like altimeter can't be replaced - so I think newer plane would help, but anyone can be sure now, how much it would prevent the crash. As everyone knows, newer planes use navi systems like ILS which Smolensk airport doesn't support, so it might make new plane as much helpless as old one.
If someone is not familiar with Poland, I have to explain Poland is an European Union member and there's no risk to any "military hunt", "dangerous situation" or other non-democratic mechanism. It's just deep political crysis, and simple human tragedy. Two of candidates for upcoming presidential elections were killed, so speaker of the lower house of parliament, Bronislaw Komorowski, would be acting president temporarily. By the way, he was another candidate which sounds terrible at this occassion as I believe no one would like to be elected in such situation.
One is for sure - all has been changed in Poland.
Deep condolences to everyone involved.
Last edited:
Soldato
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Sorry I must have missed the point, do aircraft usually land in the forest? I kind of guess that wasnt the case so something else caused them to end up there. If the Tupolev is such a superior aircraft then why are there so few of them in operation.
All I am saying is General safety standards of all Russian made things have been severley hampered since the break up of the Soviet Union. I hope it isnt the case but you got to admit the general safety standards of most of their transport would fall far below our expected standards.
Like I said it is pure speculation, but given Russian military and transport accidents since the Soviet break up the first thought is likely to start there.
like heavy fog?
Soldato
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Aircraft can land blind with ILS.
Even during soviet times most of the stuff was crap
Smolensk airfield isn't equipped with ILS, hence them being re-directed to a suitable airfield that is, but for whatever reason they didn't re-direct and ended up crashing.
I do not know how true this is but I heard it was their 4th attempt and that in previous flights where the pilots diverted the president was not too happy. Think it was a big occassion so there could have been a lot of pressure for the pilots to land which is always going to end badly.
If you are trying to land a plane FOUR times then something is serious is bound to happen.
If you are trying to land a plane FOUR times then something is serious is bound to happen.
We don't need this kind of comment today. Show some respect.
Because obviously we're not allowed to say anything bad about the dead...
If you are related to him them maybe it would be understandable, but that's unlikely, you probably haven't even seen him on tb, let alone in the flesh.
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Say what you want, but it is tremendously disrespectful. Even moreso so close to his passing.
Are you being serious or are you really that retarded?
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I dont understand how this could have happened. I have no right to make assumptions as Im not a professional accident investigator but Im not hearing that the airplane malfunctioned in any way at all. But what I have heard (BBC TV news) is that the pilot was told the destination airport was socked-in (fog) and he was given a suggestion to divert to the alternate airport. But from the looks of things he elected to try and land.
The airplane was an old TU154 and I dont know the instrument fit on it nor what kind of approach he was performing but plenty of old planes fly without incident as you read this. Lets see what the investigation brings up. I heard they found the recorder.
The airplane was an old TU154 and I dont know the instrument fit on it nor what kind of approach he was performing but plenty of old planes fly without incident as you read this. Lets see what the investigation brings up. I heard they found the recorder.