Report: Decision not to land key to crash

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MOSCOW, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- A decision not to land at another site was the main reason in the April crash of a plane carrying then-Polish President Lech Kaczynski, Russian officials said.

Russia's Interstate Aviation committee said Wednesday the crew of the Tu-154 aircraft, despite receiving information about poor weather conditions at the destination airport, decided against landing at a reserve field, killing Kaczynski and 95 others, RIA Novosti reported.

"During the flight, the Tu-154 jet's crew members repeatedly received information about the poor weather conditions at the destination airfield," committee head Tatyana Anodina said, adding the airplane was in good working order.

"Before departing from Warsaw, the plane was in a good working condition," Anodina said. "There was no fire, explosion or damage during the flight."

The plane crashed after hitting trees in thick fog April 10. The Polish delegation was en route to a commemoration of the 1940 Katyn Forest massacre near Smolensk, in which more than 20,000 Polish officers were killed by Soviet secret police.