High officials were on the board of Polish president’s aircraft, crashed today near Smolensk region, Russia. The list of passengers was released by Council for the Protection of Memory of Combat and Martyrdom, Vesti reports.

Onboard were Polish President Lech Kaczynski, his spouse Maria Kaczynska, Former Defense Minister and presidential candidate Jerzy Szmajdzinski, last president of Poland in exile Ryszard Kaczorowski, head of presidential cabinet Vladislav Stasek, Army chief of staff Gen. Franciszek Gagor, Council for the Protection of Memory of Combat and Martyrdom Director Andrzej Przewoznik, National Bank President Slawomir Skrzypek and Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Kremer.

Families of those killed at Katyn were also aboard the plane, the Polish government official at the airport informs.

According to Smolensk Governor press secretary Andrey Evseenko, the plane crashed at 10:50 failing to make it to the runway while landing in “Severny” airport, Gazeta.ru reads. The presidential Tu-154 made 3-4 attempts to land in a heavy fog.

Under the preliminary data, it hit the treetops and fell in the forest 2 km away from the air-strip. Ministry of Emergency situations informs that the plane board sparked. Polish media report that Premier Donald Tusk left for the accident site.

“Nobody has survived the disaster,” Smolensk regional Governor Sergei Anufriev said.

“We still cannot fully understand the scope of this tragedy and what it means for us in the future. Nothing like this has ever happened in Poland. We can assume with great certainty that all persons on board have been killed.” Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman Piotr Paszkowski said.

Lech Kaczynski, 60, was holding a post of Warsaw mayor prior to presidency, leading “Law and Justice” Party.

S.T.