On Wednesday, December 17, Poland’s National Prosecutor’s Office announced the closure of the probe into the alleged dismantling of Tupolev Tu-154M aircraft 102, stating the subcommittee’s actions were lawful.
Investigation Closure
On December 17, the National Prosecutor’s Office released a statement closing the investigation into the alleged destruction of Tu‑154M aircraft 102. The decision was based on the findings that the subcommittee’s activities did not exceed its legal authority.
Subcommittee’s Access and Actions
In March 2016, the subcommittee gained access to the aircraft, which had been stored in a hangar in Mińsk Mazowiecki since October 2011 due to its unsuitability for flight.
The initial work was non‑invasive. Later, selected components were dismantled and samples taken for laboratory analysis, which involved altering some structural elements of the aircraft.
Legal Basis for Aircraft Analysis
The subcommittee had the right to conduct technical investigations on the aircraft, provided such work served the research purpose. Prosecutors judged that the procedures stayed within these bounds and were permissible under aviation law.
Minister of National Defence Not Held Responsible
Since the subcommittee operated within legal limits, prosecutors found no fault on the part of the Minister of National Defence for failing to prevent the aircraft’s destruction or to restore it to its former state.
Ongoing Investigations on Other Issues
Despite closing this case, prosecutors from Investigation Team No. 4 continue four investigations covering more than a dozen aspects of the subcommittee’s conduct in relation to the 2010 aviation accident. The probe into the aircraft’s state proceeds independently.
