Traces of explosive substances on Smolensk plane: report

The paper reported that the commission found traces on at least 107 pieces of the wreck, mainly on metal parts of the plane’s chairs.

The commission also said that the body of at least one victim also had traces of an explosive substance, the paper reported.

Late President Lech Kaczyński, his wife Maria, and 94 others – mainly top political and military leaders – died on April 10, 2010, when their plane crashed while trying to land at the Smolensk airport in western Russia.

A new commission investigating the crash was set up after the Law and Justice party – headed by Kaczyński’s twin brother – came to power in late 2015.

Last year the commission said the plane was probably destroyed by a mid-air explosion and that Russian air traffic controllers deliberately misled Polish pilots about their location as the presidential plane was approaching the runway of the Smolensk military airport.

Law and Justice has long challenged an official report into the crash issued by the previous Polish government which cited a catalogue of errors on the Polish side, while also pointing to errors made by Russian staff at the control tower of Smolensk Military Airport.

A Russian report placed all the blame on the Poles. (vb)

Source: TVP