Russia Denies Air Traffic Controllers at Fault for Kaczynski Plane Crash

Russia's Investigative Committee did not find fault in actions of the members of the Russian flight control group during the investigation of a 2010 plane crash which killed then Polish president Lech Kaczynski.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — No faults have been found in actions of the members of the Russian flight control group during the investigation of a 2010 plane crash which killed then Polish president Lech Kaczynski, Russia's Investigative Committee said Friday.

"The investigation has established that the flight control group committed no violations [of procedures]. They acted in full compliance with instructions and international regulations," spokesman Vladimir Markin said.

"All transcripts of questioning sessions with flight controllers have been timely passed to the Polish prosecutors," Markin added.

The Russian-made Tu-154 passenger plane carrying Kaczynski, his wife and a number of high-ranking officials crashed in heavy fog as it attempted to land at an airfield near Smolensk on April 10, 2010. None of the 96 passengers and crew aboard the plane survived.

Poland said earlier on Friday it would bring charges against two Russian air traffic controllers as well as against Polish officials over the catastrophe. The prosecutors also admitted that the plane's crew was not selected appropriately, taking into account the drastic weather conditions.

Several versions, including inadequate preparation for the flight and bomb explosion were explored during an almost five-year-long joint investigation by Poland and Russia.