Polish planes return to Warsaw

Let us remind you that families of victims of the plane crash went to Smolensk on October 9 and 10 to commemorate them. Then they headed home on two planes – a Boeing 737-400 and an Embraer. A detail of the Boeing’s engine broke down and about 70 people including the Polish President’s wife had to stay in Vitsebsk where Belarusians offered them dinner at the airport.

Two Embraers arrived to take them from Vitsebsk on the morning of October 11 and the Poles set off home after a 12-hour delay. The Polish first lady Anna Komarowska left Vitsebsk together with the others.

Roman Vilkoshewski, the press secretary of the Polish President’s office said they had received a warm welcome in Belarus before leaving Vitsebsk:

Roman Vilkoshewski: - We were really impressed by the yesterday’s events – especially by Belarusians’ help. The only problem we had yesterday was our great tiredness but we were accommodated in a hotel very quickly and we were really pleased with the organization. We are leaving for Warsaw soon.
Families of victims of the plane crash of Tu-154 near Smolensk organized a pilgrimage to the place where their relatives died six months after the catastrophe. A memory stone is installed there. The people looked at the remains of the plane and at the birch Lech Kaczynski’s Tu-154 collided with. They were accompanied by the Polish and Russian Presidents’ wives - Anna Komarowska and Svetlana Medvedeva.

Yazek Baltser, a representative of LOT Polish Airlines has confirmed that participant of the pilgrimage had to stay in Vitsebsk due to a starter breakage of the Boeing 737. The plane was sent to Poland after repairs and the pilgrims spent the night in Vitsebsk because they were very tired.

Yazek Baltser: - The planes are in a good condition. LOT Polish Airlines’ planes have all the necessary certificates but the pilgrims decided to spend the night in Vitsebsk to avoid flying at night and to have a rest.

Marek Martsinek, the head of the consular department of the Polish Embassy to Minsk was worried about his compatriots and spent all the time in Vitsebsk:
Marek Martsinek: - I hope everything will be settled in the near future as we are all anxious about the situation.
The report has been prepared with the help of materials of http://www.polskieradio.pl/