MOSCOW (BNO NEWS) — Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his wife were killed when the presidential plane crashed near an airport in western Russia. Scores of other people, including top government officials, were also killed.

At least 96 people were on board the Tupolev 154 aircraft, according to Russia’s Emergency Ministry. The governor of Smolensk Oblast confirmed there were no survivors in the accident, which happened about several hundred meters from the runway of Smolensk Airport.

Lech Kaczyński, 60, was sworn in as President of Poland on December 23, 2005. He was visiting Smolensk for the 70th anniversary of the massacre of Polish prisoners of war in the village of Katyn. Some 20,000 Polish officers were executed there during World War II. His wife, Maria Kaczyńska, was also killed.

Among the others on board the plane was former Polish President Ryszard Kaczorowski. He served as the President of Poland in exile between July 1989 and December 1990.

Head of the National Security Bureau Aleksander Szczyglo, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrzej Kremer, Deputy Minister of Defence Stanisław Jerzy Komorowski and Armed Forces Chief of the General Staff Franciszek Gągor were also killed.

World leaders responded with shock to the sudden disaster. “This is a horrible tragedy for Poland,” said Philip Crowley, Assistant Secretary for U.S. State Department Public Affairs. “We extend to the people of Poland our deepest condolences.”

Kanat Saudabayev, the Kazakh Secretary of State and Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), also offered his condolences. “I offer my deepest condolences to the Polish people and to the families of those killed in this tragic accident. Our hearts go out to you in this difficult time,” said Saudabayev.

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said his thoughts are with those who died in the disaster. “On behalf of all of NATO, and myself personally, I express my most profound condolences to the people of Poland, and to the families of President and Mrs Kaczynski and all those who have died in this terrible acccident,” Rasmussen said. “This is a tragedy for them and for Poland. My thoughts are with them today.”

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