Poland has taken its remaining Soviet-made Tu-154M government plane out of service following a crash involving its other Tu-154M that killed President Lech Kaczynski in the Smolensk region last April.
Poland pulled the Tu-154M from service after Russia ordered airlines to stop using Tu-154B aircraft following a fire and explosion that killed three people in January.
Defense Ministry spokesman Janusz Sejmej said Friday that Poland was awaiting clarification from Russian authorities on whether the variant Warsaw uses also should be grounded.
A Russian report on the April crash found no fault with the plane.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
