Polish prosecutors requested supplementary expert opinions due to inconsistencies in previous reports, extending the investigation until at least May 2026.
Supplementary Expert Opinion Ordered
Prosecutors for the National Prosecutor’s Office’s Investigative Team No. 1 have requested a supplementary opinion from the International Team of Experts. This follows analysis of their initial comprehensive report, which was shared with victims and their lawyers, some of whom submitted evidence requests based on the document. The request, made on December 15, 2024, aims to clarify ambiguities and contradictions in previous findings. The supplementary opinion, due by May 15, 2026, is being drafted in English and must subsequently be translated into Polish, further extending the investigation.
Initial International Expert Report Details
The comprehensive opinion from the International Team of Experts, established in 2019, concerning the circumstances and causes of the Smolensk catastrophe was received by the National Prosecutor’s Office Investigative Team in September 2024. Spanning hundreds of pages and specialized aviation, chemistry, and medical terminology, the report was translated into Polish and delivered to the National Prosecutor’s Office on August 22, 2023. The National Prosecutor’s Office previously stated the report would be made public only after prosecutors, victims’ families, and their representatives had reviewed it.
Overall Investigation Status
The ongoing investigation into the April 10, 2010 crash of the presidential Tu-154M aircraft has resulted in indictments for Russian flight controller Lieutenant Colonel Paweł P. and two other Russian officers suspected of causing the accident through air traffic control violations; they remain wanted. Multiple forensic versions are being explored, including air traffic control errors, crew errors, potential aircraft malfunction, and various forms of sabotage. Over 1000 witnesses have been heard, and nearly 2000 volumes of case files have accumulated.
Other Related Legal Proceedings
In a separate investigation concerning Russian forensic pathologists who conducted autopsies of the crash victims, charges have been brought against 41 individuals for false records. These include failures to describe identifying features or significant injuries, describing non-existent organs or injuries, and claiming performed autopsy procedures not actually done. In April 2024, former Smolensk subcommittee member Waclaw B. was charged with impeding the main investigation.
Miller Commission Report: Causes of the Smolensk Crash
The Smolensk catastrophe killed 96 people, including President Lech and Maria Kaczyński. Poland’s Miller Commission, appointed by the Ministry of Defence on April 15, 2010, comprised 34 experts including civilian and military pilots, aviation lawyers, and meteorologists. Its July 29, 2011 report concluded the direct cause was descending below the minimum descent altitude (100 meters) with excessive sink rate in conditions preventing visual ground contact. The initiation of a go-around procedure for a missed landing was deemed too late when landing failure was known to be likely.
