Polish President dies in airplane crash

[Edward64]

Polish President and a bunch of other government officials killed in a plane crash.
Polish president killed in plane crash - CNN.com (http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/04/10/poland.president.plane.crash/index.html?hpt=T1)
Polish President Lech Kaczynski was killed early Saturday along with his wife, several top military officials, and the head of the national bank when their plane crashed at a western Russian airport, officials said.

"There are no survivors," said Sergey Antufyev, the governor of Smolensk, where the plane was trying to land when it crashed.

A spokesman for Poland's Foreign Ministry, Piotr Paszkowski, said earlier that it was probable that everyone on board was killed.

Information varied on how many people were on board the plane. The Polish Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry said 89 people died in the crash. The Russian Investigation Committee said there were 132 people on the plane.
Kaczynski's Law and Justice Party released a list of some of those it said were killed in the crash. They included Aleksander Szczyglo, the head of the National Security Office; Jerzy Szmajdzinski, the deputy parliament speaker; Andrzej Kremer, the deputy foreign minister; and Gen. Franciszek Gagor, the army chief of staff, according to the party.

"The entire top military brass, including the chief of defense and all the services, were on the plane," said Tomas Valasek, of the Center for European Reform. "If that is true, then you're looking at a situation, in effect, of the decapitation of the military services."
I guess the equivalent is airforce one going down. When US Presidents fly overseas, do other high-level officials fly on separate planes?

[Swaggs]

It sounds like there were a number of congressional and cabinet members as well as union, business, security, and religious leaders aboard, as well.

What a devastating loss.

[stevew]

As far as I know, Edward, there's always a cabinent member or vice president in a secure location. Even during the State of the Union there will always be one cabinent member missing. We wouldn't have all our eggs in one basket like this.

[Bad-example]

I want the people to know that they still have two out of three branches of the government working for them, and that ain't bad.

[mauchow]

I want the people to know that they still have two out of three branches of the government working for them, and that ain't bad.

Mars Attacks? Jack Nicholson.

[Kodos]

ACCK-AKKKK-ACK!

[MrBug708]

Isnt that how Jack Ryan became President in the Tom Clancy series?

[sovereignstar]

Isnt that how Jack Ryan became President in the Tom Clancy series?

Ping: Tomas Clanciski

[Big Fo]

Isnt that how Jack Ryan became President in the Tom Clancy series?

Kind of. The President wasn't on a plane in that case. An airline pilot crashed a 747 into the Capitol building during a joint session of Congress, killing most of the people inside including the President.

[Warhammer]

Its probably just me, but with everything going on over there right now, I can't help but think that Putin is behind it.

[CleBrownsfan]

Its probably just me, but with everything going on over there right now, I can't help but think that Putin is behind it.

Sad but this is the same thought I had

[lungs]

Poland's President is largely ceremonial. Kind of pointless to target him, no? Maybe the other power brokers on board though.

[Noop]

Could this be the prelude to a World War?

[MrBug708]

Kind of. The President wasn't on a plane in that case. An airline pilot crashed a 747 into the Capitol building during a joint session of Congress, killing most of the people inside including the President.

Yup. I meant that everyone was in one place other then Ryan

[Greyroofoo]

Its probably just me, but with everything going on over there right now, I can't help but think that Putin is behind it.

Good thing too.

According to msnbc, Putin is personally taking charge of the investigation!

[MrBug708]

Its probably just me, but with everything going on over there right now, I can't help but think that Putin is behind it.

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l7/NakedReporta/putinplot.jpg

[JediKooter]

I just heard that Putin is bringing in some guy by the name of Plissken to join the investigation.

[PilotMan]

This whole thing is terribly tragic. That's a crazy editorial cartoon. I can't believe that it isn't getting more coverage. And yeah, my first thought was conspiracy. From the sounds of the reports Russian ATC wanted the pilot to divert, but over there, because of radar issues, the pilot is allowed to override the ATC. So apparently he did. They shot an approach to landing that doesn't involve vertical guidance, just lateral, and with the fog, it sounds like he cheated, and hit the trees.

[JonInMiddleGA]

This whole thing is terribly tragic. That's a crazy editorial cartoon. I can't believe that it isn't getting more coverage. And yeah, my first thought was conspiracy. From the sounds of the reports Russian ATC wanted the pilot to divert, but over there, because of radar issues, the pilot is allowed to override the ATC. So apparently he did. They shot an approach to landing that doesn't involve vertical guidance, just lateral, and with the fog, it sounds like he cheated, and hit the trees.

Much like you, my first thought was conspiracy but everything seems to be pointing to pilot error.

[stevew]

I'm stunned that I haven't received one off color polish joke text message yet.

[Cringer]

I'm stunned that I haven't received one off color polish joke text message yet.

Q: Did you hear about the new automatic Polish parachutes?
A: They open on impact.

That what you wanted?

[cartman]

Ok, this just sounds like the plot of a daytime soap opera:

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/news/Dead-president39s-identical-twin-to.6254665.jp

The identical twin of the Polish president killed in a plane crash in Russia this month has announced he will try to continue his brother's legacy by running for the presidency.

[molson]

Ok, this just sounds like the plot of a daytime soap opera:

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/news/Dead-president39s-identical-twin-to.6254665.jp

Oh shit, an evil twin!

Unless......the polish president was never really killed!

[MrBug708]

Ok, this just sounds like the plot of a daytime soap opera:

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/news/Dead-president39s-identical-twin-to.6254665.jp

Is Bill Pullman Polish?

[Dutch]

This reminds me of an old book, "Road to Gandolfo" by Robert Ludlum. :)