Tu-154 aircraft heading from Warsaw to Smolensk with Polish president Lech Kaczynski and his spouse on board crashed 300-400 meters away from air-strip of Severniy military airport in Smolensk region, Russia. The crash killed 132 people, RIA Novosti reports, referring to source in RF Emergency Situations Ministry.

Kaczynski planned to visit Katyn cemetery near Smolensk to pay tribute to victims of totalitarian regimes.

During the landing under heavy fog the aircraft hit tree tops, Interfax reports.

RF Emergency Situations Minister Sergey Shoygu left for the accident site at the instruction of President Dmitry Medvedev. Premier Vladimir Putin will head fact-finding committee of the tragedy.

A.G.