Scores of Polish Civic, Religious, Military, and Government Leaders, Including President Lech Kaczyński, Die in Air Force Tupolev Tu-154 Crash

"There is going to be a huge gap in public life in Poland," said resident Magdalena Hendrysiak. "The most important people are dead."

Russian officials said that 97 people were killed when the plane carrying Kaczynski crashed as it was trying to land at an airport near the city of Smolensk.

Parliament Speaker Bronislaw Komorowski took over as acting president and declared it "a time for national mourning."

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/04/10/...