1 00:00:02,936 --> 00:00:04,804 Narrator: On April 10, 2010, 2 00:00:04,871 --> 00:00:06,439 a plane crash claimed the life 3 00:00:06,506 --> 00:00:09,175 of Polish President Lech Kaczynski. 4 00:00:09,242 --> 00:00:12,712 Man: How could it have happened that the plane crashed 5 00:00:12,779 --> 00:00:17,083 and didn't reach the airport? 6 00:00:17,150 --> 00:00:20,553 Narrator: And it happened on Russian soil. 7 00:00:20,620 --> 00:00:24,157 Man: This was a chief of state of a neighboring country 8 00:00:24,224 --> 00:00:27,160 on an extremely sensitive political mission. 9 00:00:27,227 --> 00:00:29,763 Narrator: Russian experts have conducted an investigation 10 00:00:29,829 --> 00:00:31,631 and reported their findings: 11 00:00:31,698 --> 00:00:34,200 The Polish pilots are at fault. 12 00:00:34,267 --> 00:00:38,037 Man: It seemed there was some kind of dirty trick here. 13 00:00:38,104 --> 00:00:40,607 Man: Conspiracy theories sprung up immediately. 14 00:00:40,673 --> 00:00:42,842 Narrator: Polish Interior Minister Jerzy Miller 15 00:00:42,909 --> 00:00:44,444 has examined the evidence 16 00:00:44,511 --> 00:00:48,915 and has come to a different conclusion. 17 00:00:48,982 --> 00:00:51,284 Jerzy Miller, translated: Everyone understood 18 00:00:51,351 --> 00:00:53,987 the importance of this investigation. 19 00:00:54,053 --> 00:00:57,323 Narrator: The stakes go far beyond aviation safety. 20 00:00:57,390 --> 00:01:00,293 The pride of a nation and even its political future 21 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:02,896 may hang in the balance. 22 00:01:02,962 --> 00:01:04,330 Man: It's not every day 23 00:01:04,397 --> 00:01:07,167 that they have to investigate a plane crash 24 00:01:07,233 --> 00:01:10,970 and it's a matter of top political importance. 25 00:01:11,037 --> 00:01:13,139 Flight attendant: Ladies and gentlemen, we are starting our approach. 26 00:01:13,206 --> 00:01:14,374 Pilot: We lost both engines! 27 00:01:14,441 --> 00:01:15,608 Flight Attendant: Put the mask over your nose. 28 00:01:15,675 --> 00:01:16,576 Emergency descent. 29 00:01:16,643 --> 00:01:17,644 Pilot: Mayday, mayday. 30 00:01:17,710 --> 00:01:19,679 Flight Attendant: Brace for impact! 31 00:01:19,746 --> 00:01:20,613 Controller: I think I lost one. 32 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:22,515 Man: Investigation starting... 33 00:01:23,917 --> 00:01:25,485 Man: He's gonna crash! 34 00:01:37,897 --> 00:01:40,867 Narrator: July 29, 2011. 35 00:01:40,934 --> 00:01:43,236 Jerzy Miller is preparing to reveal the results 36 00:01:43,303 --> 00:01:45,438 of Poland's independent investigation 37 00:01:45,505 --> 00:01:48,341 into the devastating crash at Smolensk airport. 38 00:01:53,046 --> 00:01:56,483 It all started 15 months earlier. 39 00:01:56,549 --> 00:02:00,587 Polish air force flight 101 is carrying 89 passengers, 40 00:02:00,653 --> 00:02:04,924 including president Lech Kaczynski. 41 00:02:04,991 --> 00:02:08,261 Four of Poland's best pilots are in the cockpit. 42 00:02:08,328 --> 00:02:09,929 They're elite military airmen 43 00:02:09,996 --> 00:02:13,099 from the country's special aviation regiment. 44 00:02:13,166 --> 00:02:14,934 Man: Have you decided yet? 45 00:02:15,001 --> 00:02:17,303 Man: Throttle down. 46 00:02:17,370 --> 00:02:18,838 Man: Throttle down. 47 00:02:21,474 --> 00:02:23,643 Narrator: Just after ten o'clock, 48 00:02:23,710 --> 00:02:27,313 the plane begins its descent to Smolensk. 49 00:02:27,380 --> 00:02:31,251 The state flight from Warsaw took off at 9:27 this morning. 50 00:02:37,323 --> 00:02:39,592 The passengers are a cross section 51 00:02:39,659 --> 00:02:41,394 of the Polish elite, 52 00:02:41,461 --> 00:02:42,929 dignitaries on their way to mark 53 00:02:42,996 --> 00:02:45,732 a grim and controversial anniversary. 54 00:02:49,869 --> 00:02:51,671 Jerzy Miller, translated: This anniversary 55 00:02:51,738 --> 00:02:55,174 was on April the 10th. 56 00:02:55,241 --> 00:02:57,277 It was a great Polish tragedy-- 57 00:02:57,343 --> 00:03:01,881 the murder of Polish soldiers in World War II, by Stalin. 58 00:03:05,151 --> 00:03:08,454 Narrator: In 1940, Stalinist forces 59 00:03:08,521 --> 00:03:11,658 marched 22,000 Polish officers and intellectuals 60 00:03:11,724 --> 00:03:16,329 into Russia's Katyn forest to be executed. 61 00:03:16,396 --> 00:03:18,731 Man: The Soviet Government took the decision-- 62 00:03:18,798 --> 00:03:20,433 the document still exists-- 63 00:03:20,500 --> 00:03:22,101 to murder them all. 64 00:03:26,239 --> 00:03:29,075 Narrator: For decades after World War II, 65 00:03:29,142 --> 00:03:33,846 the Soviet Union held Poland's firmly in its grip. 66 00:03:33,913 --> 00:03:35,481 Until the fall of communism, 67 00:03:35,548 --> 00:03:37,617 the Soviets denied all responsibility 68 00:03:37,684 --> 00:03:39,619 for the Katyn massacre. 69 00:03:43,189 --> 00:03:45,692 Sergey Yakimov, translated: The history of Polish-Russian relations 70 00:03:45,758 --> 00:03:47,193 has been very difficult, 71 00:03:47,260 --> 00:03:49,762 especially when it comes to the Soviet period... 72 00:03:52,398 --> 00:03:54,567 Because no one wanted to have blood on their hands 73 00:03:54,634 --> 00:03:58,137 for shooting the Polish officers. 74 00:03:58,204 --> 00:04:00,807 Konstsanty Gebert: For the first time, the Russian Government 75 00:04:00,873 --> 00:04:03,109 was acknowledging the crime committed 76 00:04:03,176 --> 00:04:08,648 and the pain that the poles still feel for that crime. 77 00:04:08,715 --> 00:04:11,784 Narrator: Few understand Poland's troubled past better 78 00:04:11,851 --> 00:04:13,886 than President Kaczynski. 79 00:04:13,953 --> 00:04:16,623 He's a highly respected statesman with political roots 80 00:04:16,689 --> 00:04:20,326 in the anti-communist solidarity movement of the 1980s. 81 00:04:23,129 --> 00:04:26,065 Gebert: Kaczynski cared extremely deeply 82 00:04:26,132 --> 00:04:28,234 about Polish national tradition, 83 00:04:28,301 --> 00:04:31,404 wanted to be there to commemorate the deaths 84 00:04:31,471 --> 00:04:34,974 on the anniversary of the massacre. 85 00:04:35,041 --> 00:04:38,544 Narrator: By visiting the memorial near the site of the massacre, 86 00:04:38,611 --> 00:04:41,047 the Polish President is taking an important step 87 00:04:41,114 --> 00:04:45,318 towards reconciliation. 88 00:04:45,385 --> 00:04:47,987 Yakimov: Of course, 89 00:04:48,054 --> 00:04:50,657 there was a lot of media attention for this event. 90 00:04:50,723 --> 00:04:52,525 We started preparing and making arrangements 91 00:04:52,592 --> 00:04:55,561 around two weeks ahead of time. 92 00:04:55,628 --> 00:04:59,132 Narrator: The man who has organized this momentous occasion 93 00:04:59,198 --> 00:05:02,201 is director of protocol Mariusz Kazana. 94 00:05:08,841 --> 00:05:10,843 Mariusz Kazana: Water for you, sir. 95 00:05:10,910 --> 00:05:12,812 Narrator: President Kaczynski and his wife... 96 00:05:12,879 --> 00:05:14,380 Kazana: Ma'am? 97 00:05:14,447 --> 00:05:16,449 Narrator: ...are joined by many of Poland's top brass, 98 00:05:16,516 --> 00:05:19,152 including Lieutenant General Andrzej Blasik, 99 00:05:19,218 --> 00:05:21,587 commander of the Polish air force. 100 00:05:24,857 --> 00:05:28,361 There are also descendants of the victims of the massacre 101 00:05:28,428 --> 00:05:31,330 traveling to today's ceremony. 102 00:05:31,397 --> 00:05:32,965 Gebert: To the extent 103 00:05:33,032 --> 00:05:35,802 that I can attempt to imagine their mood, 104 00:05:35,868 --> 00:05:39,272 it would have been solemn and powerful and sad. 105 00:05:43,009 --> 00:05:47,547 Narrator: The elite crew is flying a Tupolev TU-154M, 106 00:05:47,613 --> 00:05:50,583 an extremely popular Russian-built plane. 107 00:05:50,650 --> 00:05:52,785 As they get closer to the airport, 108 00:05:52,852 --> 00:05:54,954 the workload picks up. 109 00:05:55,021 --> 00:05:56,723 Flight engineer Andrzej Michalak 110 00:05:56,789 --> 00:05:58,991 must calculate engine performance. 111 00:05:59,058 --> 00:06:01,227 Andrzej Michalak: May I please have the temperature and pressure? 112 00:06:01,294 --> 00:06:03,196 Man: I'll tell you what the temperature is-- 113 00:06:03,262 --> 00:06:05,264 cold. 114 00:06:05,331 --> 00:06:08,835 Narrator: He needs some vital information from the tower. 115 00:06:08,901 --> 00:06:10,903 Man: Are we going to speak Russian? 116 00:06:10,970 --> 00:06:12,605 Man: Yes. 117 00:06:12,672 --> 00:06:15,608 Narrator: English is the international language of civil aviation. 118 00:06:18,044 --> 00:06:20,913 But since Smolensk is a military airport, 119 00:06:20,980 --> 00:06:24,016 controllers here speak only Russian. 120 00:06:24,083 --> 00:06:27,620 Passenger jets don't normally land at this base. 121 00:06:27,687 --> 00:06:29,422 But for the Polish delegation, 122 00:06:29,489 --> 00:06:33,459 it's the closest runway to the Katyn memorial. 123 00:06:33,526 --> 00:06:36,095 Alexander Stepchenkov, translated: This was a military airfield 124 00:06:36,162 --> 00:06:39,699 and the incoming flight was, as a matter of fact, civilian. 125 00:06:39,766 --> 00:06:41,768 It doesn't matter that the crew was made up of members 126 00:06:41,834 --> 00:06:44,704 of a special division of the Polish military. 127 00:06:44,771 --> 00:06:46,038 The plane was flying 128 00:06:46,105 --> 00:06:50,176 according to the rules of civilian aviation. 129 00:06:50,243 --> 00:06:52,712 Narrator: Captain Arkadiusz Protasiuk 130 00:06:52,779 --> 00:06:54,814 is the only member of this Polish crew 131 00:06:54,881 --> 00:06:56,215 who speaks Russian. 132 00:06:56,282 --> 00:06:58,985 He'll have to handle the communication with the tower. 133 00:07:00,686 --> 00:07:03,456 Polish one-zero-one. Good morning. 134 00:07:03,523 --> 00:07:07,059 Controller: Polish one-zero-one, acknowledge. 135 00:07:07,126 --> 00:07:09,495 Polish air force, we have fog. 136 00:07:09,562 --> 00:07:11,531 Visibility is 400 meters. 137 00:07:11,597 --> 00:07:13,232 Protasiuk: Understood. 138 00:07:13,299 --> 00:07:15,868 Polish Air Force 101. 139 00:07:15,935 --> 00:07:18,571 Heavy fog. Visibility's only 400 meters. 140 00:07:18,638 --> 00:07:22,341 Yakimov: The fog was so dense, nothing was visible. 141 00:07:22,408 --> 00:07:24,510 You couldn't see your hand in front of your face 142 00:07:24,577 --> 00:07:27,213 or the person standing next to you. 143 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:29,949 Narrator: Smolensk airbase doesn't have the equipment 144 00:07:30,016 --> 00:07:32,685 needed for a radio-guided landing. 145 00:07:32,752 --> 00:07:34,554 Stepchenkov: It is not the best technologically equipped 146 00:07:34,620 --> 00:07:37,623 airfield in our country. 147 00:07:37,690 --> 00:07:39,959 Narrator: The pilots will first have to descend 148 00:07:40,026 --> 00:07:41,627 to just above 300 feet, 149 00:07:41,694 --> 00:07:43,796 then look for the runway. 150 00:07:43,863 --> 00:07:47,600 Once they spot it, they will have to land manually. 151 00:07:47,667 --> 00:07:48,968 Protasiuk: Temperature and pressure, please. 152 00:07:49,035 --> 00:07:50,603 Man: Temperature is plus two. 153 00:07:50,670 --> 00:07:53,272 Pressure is 7-4-5. 154 00:07:53,339 --> 00:07:55,441 We do not have landing conditions. 155 00:07:58,211 --> 00:07:59,846 Protasiuk: Continuing our approach. 156 00:07:59,912 --> 00:08:02,782 If we're unable to land, we'll go around on autopilot. 157 00:08:05,418 --> 00:08:07,787 Narrator: Captain Protasiuk takes his plane lower 158 00:08:07,854 --> 00:08:11,924 to get a first-hand look at landing conditions. 159 00:08:11,991 --> 00:08:14,627 Stepchenkov: From their flying experience 160 00:08:14,694 --> 00:08:16,996 the crew knew that fog can be uneven. 161 00:08:17,063 --> 00:08:19,265 One minute it can be very dense, 162 00:08:19,332 --> 00:08:23,402 but 10 or 15 minutes later, the wind can clear it. 163 00:08:25,872 --> 00:08:27,807 Narrator: But as they get closer, 164 00:08:27,874 --> 00:08:31,310 the fog gets even thicker. 165 00:08:31,377 --> 00:08:33,846 Controller: Approaching outer marker. 166 00:08:33,913 --> 00:08:35,281 On course. 167 00:08:39,252 --> 00:08:44,090 Narrator: Then, the situation takes a turn for the worse. 168 00:08:44,156 --> 00:08:47,426 As the crew strains to catch sight of the runway, 169 00:08:47,493 --> 00:08:50,096 the sound of an alarm suddenly fills the cockpit. 170 00:08:52,798 --> 00:08:54,634 Navigator: 100 meters. 171 00:08:54,700 --> 00:08:56,002 Computer alarm: Terrain, terrain. Pull up. 172 00:08:56,068 --> 00:08:58,337 Protasiuk: We are leaving for a go-around. 173 00:08:58,404 --> 00:08:59,739 Narrator: In the cabin, 174 00:08:59,805 --> 00:09:03,175 passengers are preparing for an imminent landing. 175 00:09:03,242 --> 00:09:07,346 Computer Alarm: Terrain, terrain. Pull up. 176 00:09:07,413 --> 00:09:08,881 Navigator: 90 meters. 177 00:09:08,948 --> 00:09:11,183 Narrator: But the crew is struggling to make the plane climb. 178 00:09:11,250 --> 00:09:13,052 Computer alarm: Terrain, terrain. Pull up. 179 00:09:16,689 --> 00:09:19,191 Computer alarm: Terrain, terrain. Pull up. 180 00:09:19,258 --> 00:09:20,893 Navigator: 40. 181 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:23,162 Computer alarm: Terrain, terrain. Pull up. 182 00:09:26,098 --> 00:09:27,333 Navigator: 30. 183 00:09:30,202 --> 00:09:31,704 20! 184 00:10:04,236 --> 00:10:06,305 Controller: Depart for the go-around. 185 00:10:17,516 --> 00:10:19,151 How long has it been? 186 00:10:22,455 --> 00:10:26,425 Narrator: One of the darkest days in Polish history, 187 00:10:26,492 --> 00:10:28,160 a day that was to have been commemorated 188 00:10:28,227 --> 00:10:30,997 by the president himself, 189 00:10:31,063 --> 00:10:34,200 will now be remembered for yet another tragedy. 190 00:10:42,708 --> 00:10:44,377 At the Katyn memorial, 191 00:10:44,443 --> 00:10:46,245 hundreds of people await the arrival 192 00:10:46,312 --> 00:10:48,314 of the Polish delegation. 193 00:10:48,381 --> 00:10:52,151 But what they get instead is devastating news. 194 00:10:52,218 --> 00:10:54,754 The president's plane has crashed. 195 00:10:59,058 --> 00:11:01,360 Yakimov: No one could imagine 196 00:11:01,427 --> 00:11:03,295 that something like this tragedy, this crash, 197 00:11:03,362 --> 00:11:05,498 could happen. 198 00:11:05,564 --> 00:11:06,699 When we heard the first rumors 199 00:11:06,766 --> 00:11:08,567 that the Polish plane had crashed, 200 00:11:08,634 --> 00:11:10,636 we thought it was a foolish joke. 201 00:11:14,907 --> 00:11:17,410 But then, after about ten minutes, 202 00:11:17,476 --> 00:11:20,513 we saw how the Polish people were hugging and crying. 203 00:11:35,528 --> 00:11:37,730 There was a witness who used a cell phone 204 00:11:37,797 --> 00:11:40,466 to record the very first seconds of the tragedy 205 00:11:40,533 --> 00:11:42,068 when you could still see the fire, 206 00:11:42,134 --> 00:11:44,170 when the fuel was still burning. 207 00:11:46,672 --> 00:11:48,441 Narrator: Minutes after the crash, 208 00:11:48,507 --> 00:11:50,376 military personnel and rescuers 209 00:11:50,443 --> 00:11:53,746 converge on a forest 1,300 feet from the runway. 210 00:11:56,749 --> 00:12:00,286 They discover a scene of total destruction. 211 00:12:00,352 --> 00:12:02,321 The charred remnants of the president's plane 212 00:12:02,388 --> 00:12:04,190 litter the ground. 213 00:12:09,228 --> 00:12:11,697 Andrey Kasianov, translated: When I got to the crash site, 214 00:12:11,764 --> 00:12:15,000 my first impression was, "when did they remove all the bodies?" 215 00:12:15,067 --> 00:12:19,138 But after I got a closer look, the picture was very sad. 216 00:12:19,205 --> 00:12:20,372 There were body fragments. 217 00:12:20,439 --> 00:12:23,409 96 people, and not a single full body. 218 00:12:23,476 --> 00:12:25,878 I couldn't even imagine this was possible. 219 00:12:29,415 --> 00:12:32,184 Narrator: No one has survived. 220 00:12:32,251 --> 00:12:34,153 It's a monumental tragedy. 221 00:12:43,062 --> 00:12:45,865 Kasianov: The only thing I could see that had survived 222 00:12:45,931 --> 00:12:48,834 was the wreath they were bringing to the Katyn memorial. 223 00:12:53,772 --> 00:12:55,474 Narrator: With suspicions mounting 224 00:12:55,541 --> 00:12:58,644 about how such a disaster could happen, 225 00:12:58,711 --> 00:13:00,246 Russian air accident investigators 226 00:13:00,312 --> 00:13:02,615 arrive at the crash site. 227 00:13:02,681 --> 00:13:05,618 Investigator: We'll need a command post. 228 00:13:05,684 --> 00:13:08,821 See what we have to work with. 229 00:13:08,888 --> 00:13:10,422 Narrator: They are members 230 00:13:10,489 --> 00:13:12,291 of the inter-state aviation committee 231 00:13:12,358 --> 00:13:14,326 known as the M.A.K. 232 00:13:14,393 --> 00:13:15,494 Russian Investigator: Let's start over there. 233 00:13:15,561 --> 00:13:16,829 Narrator: Their task will be to figure out 234 00:13:16,896 --> 00:13:18,797 what happened and why. 235 00:13:18,864 --> 00:13:21,300 Investigator: We need to map every quadrant. 236 00:13:21,367 --> 00:13:22,601 Gebert: It's not every day 237 00:13:22,668 --> 00:13:25,237 that they have to investigate a plane crash 238 00:13:25,304 --> 00:13:29,375 and it's a matter of top political importance. 239 00:13:29,441 --> 00:13:31,477 Narrator: News of the Polish President's death 240 00:13:31,544 --> 00:13:32,778 on Russian soil 241 00:13:32,845 --> 00:13:35,948 stuns all of Poland's. 242 00:13:36,015 --> 00:13:42,388 Miller: I thought about the people onboard the plane... 243 00:13:42,454 --> 00:13:43,689 Because, you see, 244 00:13:43,756 --> 00:13:46,192 I knew most of the passengers personally. 245 00:13:50,729 --> 00:13:52,831 Narrator: As the nation grieves, 246 00:13:52,898 --> 00:13:57,536 shock and sadness soon become mixed with suspicion. 247 00:13:57,603 --> 00:14:01,140 Gebert: My first thought was, "was it an attack?" 248 00:14:04,376 --> 00:14:07,413 Because of the deeply hostile relationship 249 00:14:07,479 --> 00:14:08,814 between Poland's and Russia's, 250 00:14:08,881 --> 00:14:11,684 conspiracy theories sprung up immediately. 251 00:14:11,750 --> 00:14:13,519 Narrator: Many poles are convinced 252 00:14:13,586 --> 00:14:16,222 the world has just witnessed an assassination-- 253 00:14:16,288 --> 00:14:18,490 a targeted killing orchestrated 254 00:14:18,557 --> 00:14:21,393 by President Kaczynski's political adversaries. 255 00:14:21,460 --> 00:14:23,429 Gebert: These were accusations 256 00:14:23,495 --> 00:14:28,500 that not only the crash was an intentional attack 257 00:14:28,567 --> 00:14:30,236 by the Russians, 258 00:14:30,302 --> 00:14:33,172 but that the Polish Goverment knew it 259 00:14:33,239 --> 00:14:36,242 and was actually in cahoots with the Russians 260 00:14:36,308 --> 00:14:40,145 in order to eliminate a dangerous political opponent. 261 00:14:40,212 --> 00:14:43,082 Narrator: With so many high-ranking officials now dead, 262 00:14:43,148 --> 00:14:47,453 some fear Poland's entire goverment may collapse. 263 00:14:47,519 --> 00:14:48,621 Gebert: I was terribly concerned 264 00:14:48,687 --> 00:14:52,458 that we might not make it, 265 00:14:52,524 --> 00:14:56,528 that these were the 100 out of the 400 266 00:14:56,595 --> 00:14:58,964 most important people in Poland's. 267 00:14:59,031 --> 00:15:02,568 I wasn't sure if we've produced a state 268 00:15:02,635 --> 00:15:06,438 that can weather this shock. 269 00:15:06,505 --> 00:15:07,873 Narrator: At the crash site, 270 00:15:07,940 --> 00:15:10,075 the evidence is pointing in a direction 271 00:15:10,142 --> 00:15:13,846 that will not sit well with poles. 272 00:15:13,912 --> 00:15:17,683 Investigator: Why would they even try to land in this fog? 273 00:15:17,750 --> 00:15:19,685 Narrator: Some claim the Polish pilots 274 00:15:19,752 --> 00:15:23,289 should not have tried to land in the heavy fog. 275 00:15:23,355 --> 00:15:27,459 The suggestion raises anger in Poland's. 276 00:15:27,526 --> 00:15:29,895 Gebert: For the partisans of the conspiracy theory, 277 00:15:29,962 --> 00:15:32,631 it was just another Russian whitewash. 278 00:15:35,934 --> 00:15:38,637 Narrator: Poland's leaders are desperate to uncover the truth 279 00:15:38,704 --> 00:15:40,506 about the crash. 280 00:15:40,572 --> 00:15:41,907 They send their own investigators 281 00:15:41,974 --> 00:15:44,677 to work alongside the Russians. 282 00:15:46,945 --> 00:15:49,715 Maciej Lasek, translated: It was a big challenge. 283 00:15:49,782 --> 00:15:51,483 Altogether there were 34 people 284 00:15:51,550 --> 00:15:55,688 fully engaged in conducting research on this crash. 285 00:15:55,754 --> 00:15:59,325 Polish investigator: What have you got so far? 286 00:16:01,126 --> 00:16:04,196 Miller: We approached the investigation 287 00:16:04,263 --> 00:16:08,000 with sound procedures, 288 00:16:08,067 --> 00:16:09,468 meaning that, in the beginning, 289 00:16:09,535 --> 00:16:13,405 we assumed that every potential cause was possible. 290 00:16:13,472 --> 00:16:16,575 And then we gradually eliminated what didn't fit. 291 00:16:21,146 --> 00:16:23,349 Narrator: They launch a painstaking search 292 00:16:23,415 --> 00:16:26,018 for any evidence that the flight may have been brought down 293 00:16:26,085 --> 00:16:28,053 by assassins. 294 00:16:30,222 --> 00:16:31,924 Miller: We also checked to see 295 00:16:31,990 --> 00:16:34,259 if there was any trace of explosives 296 00:16:34,326 --> 00:16:36,862 on the airplane wreckage. 297 00:16:39,631 --> 00:16:42,701 Narrator: Careful analysis by both Russian and Polish experts 298 00:16:42,768 --> 00:16:46,205 reveals no explosive residue on the wreckage... 299 00:16:46,271 --> 00:16:49,208 No sign that the plane was shot down. 300 00:16:49,274 --> 00:16:51,810 Investigators on both sides agree: 301 00:16:51,877 --> 00:16:57,449 The crash is a tragic accident, not a political assassination. 302 00:16:59,852 --> 00:17:02,688 Miller: That possibility was ruled out very quickly 303 00:17:02,755 --> 00:17:05,858 because of the complete lack of evidence. 304 00:17:10,162 --> 00:17:14,933 Narrator: Investigators must find the plane's black boxes. 305 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:16,802 Polish Investigator: Excuse me. 306 00:17:16,869 --> 00:17:18,771 Any sign of the flight recorders? 307 00:17:18,837 --> 00:17:21,140 Russian Investigator: Not yet. 308 00:17:21,206 --> 00:17:24,009 But it's our top priority. 309 00:17:24,076 --> 00:17:28,747 Polish Investigator: You know, of course, we need all three. 310 00:17:28,814 --> 00:17:30,249 Russian investigator: Of course. 311 00:17:33,852 --> 00:17:36,522 Narrator: With suspicion growing at home, 312 00:17:36,588 --> 00:17:39,458 Polish investigators anxiously want to get their hands 313 00:17:39,525 --> 00:17:41,760 on all of the plane's recorders. 314 00:17:41,827 --> 00:17:44,663 The Tupolev had three. 315 00:17:44,730 --> 00:17:47,800 The cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder 316 00:17:47,866 --> 00:17:49,668 are Russian made. 317 00:17:49,735 --> 00:17:51,403 Man: Have you decided yet? 318 00:17:51,470 --> 00:17:53,672 Narrator: They will reveal what the pilots said 319 00:17:53,739 --> 00:17:56,442 and how the airplane performed. 320 00:17:56,508 --> 00:17:59,878 A third Polish-made device called the quick access recorder 321 00:17:59,945 --> 00:18:02,314 also captures flight data, 322 00:18:02,381 --> 00:18:03,849 but it can only be read 323 00:18:03,916 --> 00:18:07,119 by the device's Polish manufacturer. 324 00:18:07,186 --> 00:18:09,488 If the Russian and Polish data match, 325 00:18:09,555 --> 00:18:11,256 investigators will be assured 326 00:18:11,323 --> 00:18:13,859 that no one has tampered with either machine. 327 00:18:17,563 --> 00:18:19,198 Lasek: It was essential 328 00:18:19,264 --> 00:18:21,099 because we expected to hear suspicions 329 00:18:21,166 --> 00:18:22,734 or accusations from the public 330 00:18:22,801 --> 00:18:24,970 that the data read by the M.A.K. Experts 331 00:18:25,037 --> 00:18:27,105 had been tampered with. 332 00:18:31,210 --> 00:18:34,279 Narrator: While the search for the recorders continues, 333 00:18:34,346 --> 00:18:37,282 investigators seek answers from the air traffic controller 334 00:18:37,349 --> 00:18:39,117 on duty that morning. 335 00:18:39,184 --> 00:18:43,155 They want to know why the pilots tried to land in such heavy fog. 336 00:18:43,222 --> 00:18:44,389 Man: They were not coming in to land. 337 00:18:44,456 --> 00:18:46,892 They were only doing a trial approach. 338 00:18:46,959 --> 00:18:48,327 Narrator: They learn that the crew was warned 339 00:18:48,393 --> 00:18:50,562 about the poor visibility. 340 00:18:50,629 --> 00:18:52,898 Man: We do not have landing conditions. 341 00:18:52,965 --> 00:18:57,736 Narrator: But they wanted to judge conditions for themselves. 342 00:18:57,803 --> 00:18:58,971 Controller: Polish 101, 343 00:18:59,037 --> 00:19:02,541 from 100 meters be prepared to do a go-around. 344 00:19:02,608 --> 00:19:05,544 Narrator: The plan was to descend to just over 300 feet, 345 00:19:05,611 --> 00:19:07,312 then fly over the airport. 346 00:19:07,379 --> 00:19:10,649 Controller: At 100 meters that was the decision height. 347 00:19:14,453 --> 00:19:16,021 Lasek: Approaching below the minimum 348 00:19:16,088 --> 00:19:19,391 always brings the risk of hitting objects on the ground. 349 00:19:19,458 --> 00:19:22,461 After that, there's no certainty that attempting a go-around 350 00:19:22,528 --> 00:19:24,229 can be done safely. 351 00:19:29,101 --> 00:19:31,503 Narrator: But investigators are puzzled. 352 00:19:31,570 --> 00:19:33,639 Something doesn't add up. 353 00:19:33,705 --> 00:19:35,874 Even at around 300 feet, 354 00:19:35,941 --> 00:19:38,610 the plane should have easily cleared the trees. 355 00:19:46,118 --> 00:19:48,053 Surveying the forest, 356 00:19:48,120 --> 00:19:51,924 they work to identify the first tree the Tupolev slammed into. 357 00:19:53,692 --> 00:19:56,628 They find it about a half a mile from the runway. 358 00:20:03,168 --> 00:20:05,504 Russian investigator: Pilots hit the tree 359 00:20:05,571 --> 00:20:08,473 at 11 meters. 360 00:20:08,540 --> 00:20:11,543 Narrator: If they intended to fly at ten times that height, 361 00:20:11,610 --> 00:20:13,545 how did they hit the tree? 362 00:20:13,612 --> 00:20:15,447 Polish investigator: We need more information. 363 00:20:15,514 --> 00:20:16,715 Narrator: For some reason, 364 00:20:16,782 --> 00:20:19,384 the presidential jet was flying dangerously low 365 00:20:19,451 --> 00:20:21,787 as it sped toward the airport. 366 00:20:21,853 --> 00:20:24,222 Was it a failure of the Russian plane, 367 00:20:24,289 --> 00:20:26,491 or a mistake by the Polish crew? 368 00:20:32,297 --> 00:20:34,266 Investigators in the Polish tragedy 369 00:20:34,333 --> 00:20:36,969 get a major break in the case. 370 00:20:37,035 --> 00:20:39,805 They find the two Russian-made black boxes. 371 00:20:46,078 --> 00:20:48,046 The Polish flight recorder, though, 372 00:20:48,113 --> 00:20:50,082 remains buried in the wreckage. 373 00:20:50,148 --> 00:20:52,851 Polish Investigator: Any sign of the AR? 374 00:20:52,918 --> 00:20:54,519 Russian investigator: Not yet. 375 00:20:54,586 --> 00:20:57,255 Narrator: The flight data recorder may hold valuable clues 376 00:20:57,322 --> 00:21:00,759 about what doomed the president's plane. 377 00:21:00,826 --> 00:21:04,329 The device is rushed to the M.A.K. Laboratory in Moscow. 378 00:21:12,037 --> 00:21:15,340 Investigators download the data, 379 00:21:15,407 --> 00:21:21,647 searching for any sign of an onboard mechanical failure. 380 00:21:21,713 --> 00:21:24,383 But the analysis comes up empty. 381 00:21:24,449 --> 00:21:27,152 Russian investigator: It looks like everything was functioning. 382 00:21:27,219 --> 00:21:30,288 Narrator: Until the moment the plane struck the first tree, 383 00:21:30,355 --> 00:21:32,424 there was no malfunction whatsoever. 384 00:21:32,491 --> 00:21:34,059 Russian investigator: We'll send you a copy of the data. 385 00:21:34,126 --> 00:21:36,695 Narrator: It's beginning to look like the initial speculation 386 00:21:36,762 --> 00:21:37,963 is true. 387 00:21:38,030 --> 00:21:41,333 The Polish pilots may be at fault. 388 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:43,835 Polish investigators need to be sure 389 00:21:43,902 --> 00:21:46,371 the Russian data has not been tampered with. 390 00:21:48,407 --> 00:21:49,608 Their only hope 391 00:21:49,675 --> 00:21:53,345 is to find the missing Polish-made flight recorder. 392 00:21:53,412 --> 00:21:55,947 But so far, the search is proving fruitless. 393 00:21:57,749 --> 00:22:01,386 Miller: Only by combining all of the parameters 394 00:22:01,453 --> 00:22:03,221 could we answer the questions: 395 00:22:03,288 --> 00:22:06,024 Did the crew follow procedures? 396 00:22:06,091 --> 00:22:09,394 Was the plane working properly to the end? 397 00:22:11,897 --> 00:22:13,331 Narrator: Meanwhile, 398 00:22:13,398 --> 00:22:15,133 investigators from both countries 399 00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:17,536 turn their attention to the cockpit voice recorder. 400 00:22:23,308 --> 00:22:25,844 Wieslaw Jedynak, translated: This is a very important element 401 00:22:25,911 --> 00:22:27,546 that helps accident investigators 402 00:22:27,612 --> 00:22:30,315 understand the crew's last moments in the plane. 403 00:22:32,517 --> 00:22:34,653 Russian investigator: All ready? 404 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:36,655 Let's go ahead. 405 00:22:38,523 --> 00:22:42,294 Narrator: They immediately notice something unusual. 406 00:22:47,432 --> 00:22:49,067 Polish Investigator: That sounds like the captain. 407 00:22:49,134 --> 00:22:51,603 Narrator: The captain is the one making radio calls 408 00:22:51,670 --> 00:22:53,171 to air traffic control, 409 00:22:53,238 --> 00:22:54,339 and he's doing it in Russian. 410 00:22:59,945 --> 00:23:02,681 Russian Investigator: Why's the captain making the radio calls? 411 00:23:02,748 --> 00:23:05,517 Narrator: Proper aviation procedures 412 00:23:05,584 --> 00:23:07,586 call for the navigator to handle the radio 413 00:23:07,652 --> 00:23:11,790 while the captain concentrates on flying the plane. 414 00:23:15,293 --> 00:23:16,661 Narrator: Investigators suspect 415 00:23:16,728 --> 00:23:19,397 the captain decided to handle the radio himself 416 00:23:19,464 --> 00:23:22,134 because he was the only one who could speak Russian. 417 00:23:25,570 --> 00:23:28,173 Lasek: The captain who was flying the plane 418 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:29,875 was in charge of the crew 419 00:23:29,941 --> 00:23:32,544 and handling the radio communication. 420 00:23:32,611 --> 00:23:35,313 His workload was too heavy. 421 00:23:36,882 --> 00:23:38,784 Narrator: Moments later, 422 00:23:38,850 --> 00:23:42,287 the recording reveals something even more surprising. 423 00:23:42,354 --> 00:23:44,923 Protasiuk: Mr. Director, fog has rolled in. 424 00:23:44,990 --> 00:23:47,959 In the conditions we have right now, 425 00:23:48,026 --> 00:23:49,594 we'll not be able to land. 426 00:23:54,266 --> 00:23:56,668 Russian Investigator: Who is he talking to? 427 00:23:56,735 --> 00:23:59,004 Protasiuk: Mr. Director, the fog has rolled in. 428 00:23:59,070 --> 00:24:00,272 In the conditions we have right now, 429 00:24:00,338 --> 00:24:03,275 we will not be able to land. 430 00:24:03,341 --> 00:24:06,912 We'll make an attempt, but it probably won't work. 431 00:24:06,978 --> 00:24:09,848 Kazana: Then we have a problem. 432 00:24:15,153 --> 00:24:17,022 Polish Investigator: Sounds like Kazana, 433 00:24:17,088 --> 00:24:18,390 the director of protocol. 434 00:24:18,456 --> 00:24:21,927 Russian Investigator: What is he doing in the cockpit? 435 00:24:21,993 --> 00:24:27,098 Narrator: The pilots were not alone in the cockpit. 436 00:24:27,165 --> 00:24:29,501 Jedynak: We could hear voices of people 437 00:24:29,568 --> 00:24:31,403 who were definitely not crew members. 438 00:24:31,469 --> 00:24:33,538 And this meant that the cockpit was accessible 439 00:24:33,605 --> 00:24:36,608 to people who were not part of the flight crew. 440 00:24:36,675 --> 00:24:39,177 Controller: From 100 meters, be prepared to do a go-around. 441 00:24:39,244 --> 00:24:40,745 Protasiuk: Acknowledged. 442 00:24:44,449 --> 00:24:47,285 Narrator: Safety rules forbid visitors in the cockpit 443 00:24:47,352 --> 00:24:49,354 at key points in the flight. 444 00:24:52,224 --> 00:24:53,758 Jedynak: It was surprising 445 00:24:53,825 --> 00:24:56,561 because it confirmed that the cockpit wasn't sterile. 446 00:24:56,628 --> 00:24:58,730 There's a rule that, below a certain altitude, 447 00:24:58,797 --> 00:25:01,399 pilots should be isolated from the rest of the plane 448 00:25:01,466 --> 00:25:05,770 so they can concentrate on their tasks. 449 00:25:05,837 --> 00:25:07,239 Narrator: It now appears 450 00:25:07,305 --> 00:25:10,075 the presence of so many top officials on board 451 00:25:10,141 --> 00:25:12,043 affected the decision to land. 452 00:25:12,110 --> 00:25:16,548 Kazana: Sir, I have some news from the cockpit. 453 00:25:16,615 --> 00:25:19,484 Lasek: We described it as indirect pressure, 454 00:25:19,551 --> 00:25:21,920 the pressure resulting from the weight of the task 455 00:25:21,987 --> 00:25:27,125 and the mission the aircrew was completing. 456 00:25:27,192 --> 00:25:29,060 Narrator: Some Investigators believe 457 00:25:29,127 --> 00:25:32,330 general Blasik also visited the cockpit. 458 00:25:32,397 --> 00:25:36,167 As the mystery behind the crash of air force 101 grows deeper, 459 00:25:36,234 --> 00:25:38,169 one thing is clear. 460 00:25:38,236 --> 00:25:39,271 Gebert: In a crash, 461 00:25:39,337 --> 00:25:41,606 be it an air crash or a political crash 462 00:25:41,673 --> 00:25:43,842 or a crash in human relations, 463 00:25:43,909 --> 00:25:47,212 very seldom there's just one factor. 464 00:25:47,279 --> 00:25:50,115 Narrator: There is much more to this tragedy 465 00:25:50,181 --> 00:25:52,284 than simple pilot error. 466 00:26:03,528 --> 00:26:06,898 Narrator: While Poland's mourns the loss of its president, 467 00:26:06,965 --> 00:26:10,835 suspicion and doubt still linger over the cause of his death. 468 00:26:10,902 --> 00:26:13,104 Conspiracy theories are spreading. 469 00:26:15,407 --> 00:26:17,876 Yakimov: The Polish media distrusted the information 470 00:26:17,943 --> 00:26:19,945 provided by the Russian experts. 471 00:26:20,011 --> 00:26:22,814 It seemed there was some kind of dirty trick here. 472 00:26:25,417 --> 00:26:27,319 Narrator: But at the crash site, 473 00:26:27,385 --> 00:26:29,454 investigators have uncovered the one thing 474 00:26:29,521 --> 00:26:32,924 that could erase many of those suspicions-- 475 00:26:32,991 --> 00:26:35,226 the Polish-made flight recorder. 476 00:26:40,365 --> 00:26:43,768 Finally, Polish experts can study the data 477 00:26:43,835 --> 00:26:46,805 from both flight recorders side by side. 478 00:26:46,871 --> 00:26:49,074 They look for any discrepancy, 479 00:26:49,140 --> 00:26:52,677 any hint that the black box data has been altered. 480 00:26:52,744 --> 00:26:54,512 After a careful analysis, 481 00:26:54,579 --> 00:26:58,049 they reach a definitive conclusion. 482 00:26:58,116 --> 00:27:00,318 Polish Investigator: All the data's here. 483 00:27:00,385 --> 00:27:03,621 Narrator: The two sets of data are a perfect match. 484 00:27:06,825 --> 00:27:08,860 Lasek: It was important for us 485 00:27:08,927 --> 00:27:10,495 because it removed all doubt 486 00:27:10,562 --> 00:27:14,399 that the data might have been manipulated. 487 00:27:14,466 --> 00:27:16,668 Narrator: With the data verified, 488 00:27:16,735 --> 00:27:18,870 investigators refocus their attention 489 00:27:18,937 --> 00:27:20,739 on the cockpit voice recorder. 490 00:27:20,805 --> 00:27:23,575 Controller: Turn on your landing lights. 491 00:27:23,641 --> 00:27:25,577 Protasiuk: Lights on. 492 00:27:25,643 --> 00:27:27,812 Computer alarm: Terrain, terrain. Pull up. 493 00:27:27,879 --> 00:27:29,214 Narrator: They hear a warning 494 00:27:29,280 --> 00:27:33,051 that the plane is dangerously low. 495 00:27:33,118 --> 00:27:35,920 But strangely, the pilots don't seem to react to it. 496 00:27:35,987 --> 00:27:37,589 Protasiuk: You can't see a thing. 497 00:27:37,655 --> 00:27:40,058 Computer alarm: Terrain, terrain. Pull up. 498 00:27:40,125 --> 00:27:42,127 Polish Investigator: Why aren't they concerned about their altitude? 499 00:27:42,193 --> 00:27:45,563 Russian Investigator: They should be. 500 00:27:45,630 --> 00:27:48,366 Jedynak: The reactions of the pilots and the crew 501 00:27:48,433 --> 00:27:50,802 should be immediate, without any hesitation. 502 00:27:55,507 --> 00:27:56,975 When we listened to the recordings 503 00:27:57,042 --> 00:27:58,743 for the first time 504 00:27:58,810 --> 00:28:01,413 and heard the very clear system warnings, 505 00:28:01,479 --> 00:28:05,417 it was very surprising that the crew didn't react properly. 506 00:28:07,052 --> 00:28:09,354 Controller: Turn on your landing lights. 507 00:28:09,421 --> 00:28:12,157 Narrator: Investigators are puzzled by the crew's behavior. 508 00:28:12,223 --> 00:28:14,759 They compare the plane's intended flight path 509 00:28:14,826 --> 00:28:17,295 to the altitudes called out by the navigator. 510 00:28:17,362 --> 00:28:18,463 Navigator: 100 meters. 511 00:28:18,530 --> 00:28:21,332 Computer alarm: Pull up. Terrain, terrain... 512 00:28:21,399 --> 00:28:22,867 Navigator: 90 meters. 513 00:28:22,934 --> 00:28:26,371 Computer alarm: Terrain, terrain. Pull up. 514 00:28:26,438 --> 00:28:27,806 Navigator: 40. 515 00:28:27,872 --> 00:28:30,742 Computer alarm: Terrain, terrain, terrain, terrain... 516 00:28:30,809 --> 00:28:32,544 Navigator: 30. 517 00:28:34,479 --> 00:28:36,114 Navigator: 20! 518 00:28:38,450 --> 00:28:39,784 Russian Investigator: Stop. 519 00:28:39,851 --> 00:28:44,355 Narrator: Just after the navigator calls out 65 feet, 520 00:28:44,422 --> 00:28:45,657 the unmistakable sound 521 00:28:45,723 --> 00:28:48,093 of the plane hitting the first tree. 522 00:28:48,159 --> 00:28:50,061 Russian Investigator: 20 meters? 523 00:28:50,128 --> 00:28:54,766 Polish Investigator: They hit the tree at 11 meters, not 20. 524 00:28:54,833 --> 00:28:56,234 Narrator: Something's not right. 525 00:28:56,301 --> 00:28:58,803 The navigator is calling out 65 feet, 526 00:28:58,870 --> 00:29:01,473 but the plane is only 36 feet from the ground. 527 00:29:01,539 --> 00:29:04,542 Russian Investigator: They didn't know their altitude. 528 00:29:04,609 --> 00:29:06,444 Narrator: The recording leaves investigators 529 00:29:06,511 --> 00:29:08,680 with two important questions: 530 00:29:08,746 --> 00:29:11,282 Why did the crew ignore the alarms, 531 00:29:11,349 --> 00:29:14,519 and why were they closer to the ground than they thought? 532 00:29:14,586 --> 00:29:16,221 The team pores over the flight data, 533 00:29:16,287 --> 00:29:19,224 checking for signs of an altimeter malfunction. 534 00:29:19,290 --> 00:29:20,959 Russian Investigator: Lieutenant. 535 00:29:21,025 --> 00:29:22,894 Narrator: It could explain the crash. 536 00:29:22,961 --> 00:29:24,963 Russian Investigator: What happens here? 537 00:29:25,029 --> 00:29:27,031 Narrator: But instead of a malfunction, 538 00:29:27,098 --> 00:29:30,535 they find that the altimeter reading makes a sudden jump. 539 00:29:30,602 --> 00:29:31,769 A barometric altimeter 540 00:29:31,836 --> 00:29:34,172 shows the plane's height above sea level 541 00:29:34,239 --> 00:29:36,574 by measuring atmospheric pressure: 542 00:29:36,641 --> 00:29:40,245 Air pressure goes up as the plane goes down. 543 00:29:40,311 --> 00:29:42,447 When approaching an airport, 544 00:29:42,514 --> 00:29:44,649 pilots usually calibrate the altimeter 545 00:29:44,716 --> 00:29:47,418 to account for the airport's height above sea level. 546 00:29:49,087 --> 00:29:51,256 But that's not what this crew did. 547 00:29:58,496 --> 00:30:00,932 Russian Investigator: Someone reset the altimeter. 548 00:30:03,501 --> 00:30:06,437 Jedynak: One of the crew members switched the captain's altimeter 549 00:30:06,504 --> 00:30:10,608 to a pressure which changed the altitude reference. 550 00:30:10,675 --> 00:30:14,245 The plane seemed a little bit higher than it was in reality. 551 00:30:16,347 --> 00:30:17,615 Narrator: The numbers show 552 00:30:17,682 --> 00:30:21,719 that the instrument was reset to its default setting-- 553 00:30:21,786 --> 00:30:23,855 a move that resulted in an altimeter reading 554 00:30:23,922 --> 00:30:27,392 much higher than the plane's actual height above the ground. 555 00:30:30,528 --> 00:30:34,666 Polish Investigator: Why would a pilot do that? 556 00:30:34,732 --> 00:30:37,402 Narrator: Polish investigators take their questions to pilots 557 00:30:37,468 --> 00:30:40,872 from the same special regiment that flew the president. 558 00:30:40,939 --> 00:30:44,709 Polish Investigator: What do you think they were doing? 559 00:30:44,776 --> 00:30:46,244 Narrator: They learn that military pilots 560 00:30:46,311 --> 00:30:48,580 sometimes use the barometric altimeter 561 00:30:48,646 --> 00:30:51,449 to solve an annoying problem. 562 00:30:51,516 --> 00:30:53,117 The altimeter is connected 563 00:30:53,184 --> 00:30:56,621 to the terrain altitude warning system, or taws. 564 00:30:56,688 --> 00:31:00,558 It alerts pilots if they're getting too close to the ground. 565 00:31:00,625 --> 00:31:01,759 The system is pre-programmed 566 00:31:01,826 --> 00:31:04,462 with the location of most major airports 567 00:31:04,529 --> 00:31:05,730 and will not sound an alarm 568 00:31:05,797 --> 00:31:09,033 when the pilots are coming in to land. 569 00:31:09,100 --> 00:31:12,604 But that only works if the airport is in the database. 570 00:31:12,670 --> 00:31:16,674 Many, including Smolensk, are not. 571 00:31:16,741 --> 00:31:20,478 Lasek: The Smolensk airport, which is a military airport, 572 00:31:20,545 --> 00:31:23,314 was not included in the taws system. 573 00:31:23,381 --> 00:31:25,149 Narrator: The alarm goes off so frequently 574 00:31:25,216 --> 00:31:26,684 at military airports 575 00:31:26,751 --> 00:31:28,886 that some pilots have developed a dangerous habit 576 00:31:28,953 --> 00:31:32,090 of disregarding the sound. 577 00:31:32,156 --> 00:31:33,491 Protasiuk: You can't see a thing. 578 00:31:37,262 --> 00:31:39,998 Lasek: We analyzed many flights. 579 00:31:40,064 --> 00:31:41,699 And it turns out that they were in the habit 580 00:31:41,766 --> 00:31:43,568 of ignoring these alarms. 581 00:31:46,371 --> 00:31:48,339 Narrator: And that's not all. 582 00:31:48,406 --> 00:31:49,707 Polish Investigator: You're telling me 583 00:31:49,774 --> 00:31:52,677 you actually change the altimeter to the wrong setting? 584 00:31:52,744 --> 00:31:54,178 Narrator: They've also come up with ways 585 00:31:54,245 --> 00:31:57,148 to silence the nuisance alarms. 586 00:31:57,215 --> 00:31:59,617 One way is to simply reset the altimeter. 587 00:31:59,684 --> 00:32:01,386 That fools the system 588 00:32:01,452 --> 00:32:04,355 into thinking the plane is flying at a higher altitude. 589 00:32:04,422 --> 00:32:08,493 Controller: Turn on your landing lights. 590 00:32:08,559 --> 00:32:09,527 Protasiuk: Lights on. 591 00:32:09,594 --> 00:32:11,562 Narrator: It's a temporary fix. 592 00:32:11,629 --> 00:32:15,133 As the crew of the presidential jet continues to descend, 593 00:32:15,199 --> 00:32:17,935 the alarm sounds again just 20 seconds later. 594 00:32:19,537 --> 00:32:21,439 Polish Investigator: Start playback. 595 00:32:21,506 --> 00:32:23,775 Narrator: It seems incredible that such an elite crew 596 00:32:23,841 --> 00:32:26,010 flying such high-ranking passengers 597 00:32:26,077 --> 00:32:27,712 would commit a breach of procedures. 598 00:32:27,779 --> 00:32:28,946 Navigator: 100 meters. 599 00:32:29,013 --> 00:32:30,648 Narrator: Even if they did, 600 00:32:30,715 --> 00:32:32,917 it doesn't explain why the navigator 601 00:32:32,984 --> 00:32:35,219 was calling out the wrong altitude during the descent. 602 00:32:35,286 --> 00:32:36,554 Navigator: 90 meters. 603 00:32:36,621 --> 00:32:39,023 Polish Investigator: Stop playback. 604 00:32:39,090 --> 00:32:41,426 He was using his radio altimeter. 605 00:32:43,127 --> 00:32:44,962 Narrator: Most large jets 606 00:32:45,029 --> 00:32:46,798 are equipped with two types of altimeter. 607 00:32:46,864 --> 00:32:48,199 Navigator: 40. 608 00:32:48,266 --> 00:32:51,502 Narrator: Since the barometric altimeter has been reset, 609 00:32:51,569 --> 00:32:54,372 the navigator could only have been using the second one. 610 00:32:54,439 --> 00:32:55,707 Navigator: 20! 611 00:32:55,773 --> 00:32:58,743 Narrator: His radio altimeter. 612 00:32:58,810 --> 00:33:00,244 It uses radio waves 613 00:33:00,311 --> 00:33:05,650 to measure the distance between the plane and the ground below. 614 00:33:05,717 --> 00:33:09,454 But the terrain near Smolensk airbase is uneven. 615 00:33:09,520 --> 00:33:13,324 Planes have to fly over a valley to reach it. 616 00:33:13,391 --> 00:33:15,360 Polish Investigator: Look what happens here. 617 00:33:15,426 --> 00:33:18,896 Narrator: When the radio altimeter read 300 feet, 618 00:33:18,963 --> 00:33:22,400 the air force jet was not 300 feet above the airport. 619 00:33:22,467 --> 00:33:26,003 It was 300 feet from the bottom of the valley. 620 00:33:26,070 --> 00:33:30,408 In the dense fog, the pilots couldn't see the ground. 621 00:33:30,475 --> 00:33:32,443 Once they cleared the valley, 622 00:33:32,510 --> 00:33:35,380 they were just above the treetops. 623 00:33:35,446 --> 00:33:38,950 The radio altimeter was giving them misleading information. 624 00:33:41,386 --> 00:33:45,289 Lasek: Using the radio altimeter at this early stage of approach 625 00:33:45,356 --> 00:33:47,458 is a serious mistake. 626 00:33:48,559 --> 00:33:51,596 Narrator: It doomed everyone on board. 627 00:33:56,167 --> 00:33:58,035 Investigators have uncovered 628 00:33:58,102 --> 00:34:00,838 some of the key factors in the crash. 629 00:34:00,905 --> 00:34:03,241 But there is another question to consider. 630 00:34:03,307 --> 00:34:05,076 Polish Investigator: Why would he even try an approach 631 00:34:05,143 --> 00:34:06,778 in such foggy weather? 632 00:34:06,844 --> 00:34:11,849 Controller: Temperature plus two. 633 00:34:11,916 --> 00:34:13,484 Pressure 7.45. 634 00:34:13,551 --> 00:34:15,720 We do not have landing conditions. 635 00:34:15,787 --> 00:34:17,121 Narrator: The pilots were warned 636 00:34:17,188 --> 00:34:19,023 that conditions were not suitable for landing, 637 00:34:19,090 --> 00:34:20,491 yet they persisted, 638 00:34:20,558 --> 00:34:22,860 and descended towards Smolensk airport. 639 00:34:26,697 --> 00:34:28,633 Lasek: After getting the information 640 00:34:28,699 --> 00:34:30,134 about the fog and visibility, 641 00:34:30,201 --> 00:34:32,403 the decision to fly to the alternate airport 642 00:34:32,470 --> 00:34:35,273 should have been made immediately. 643 00:34:37,542 --> 00:34:40,244 Narrator: A closer look at captain Protasiuk's history 644 00:34:40,311 --> 00:34:42,814 may help explain that decision. 645 00:34:42,880 --> 00:34:44,615 This was not the first time he'd flown 646 00:34:44,682 --> 00:34:46,551 with the President of Poland's. 647 00:34:49,720 --> 00:34:53,191 Lasek: Everyone in Poland's knew what happened a few years ago, 648 00:34:53,257 --> 00:34:55,226 when the captain served as the co-pilot 649 00:34:55,293 --> 00:34:57,662 during the Azerbaijan flight. 650 00:35:00,031 --> 00:35:02,934 Narrator: In august of 2008, 651 00:35:03,000 --> 00:35:05,837 the president wanted to fly into a war zone. 652 00:35:05,903 --> 00:35:10,141 Protasiuk was the first officer on the flight. 653 00:35:10,208 --> 00:35:13,211 Protasiuk: I'll inform ATC of your decision. 654 00:35:13,277 --> 00:35:16,581 Negative. We will not be landing in Tbilisi. 655 00:35:16,647 --> 00:35:19,917 Narrator: The captain refused to fly to an unsafe airport. 656 00:35:22,753 --> 00:35:25,389 Lasek: His captain was ordered to land in Georgia, 657 00:35:25,456 --> 00:35:27,758 but he did not follow this order. 658 00:35:30,761 --> 00:35:32,463 Narrator: The captain of that flight 659 00:35:32,530 --> 00:35:35,266 paid a high price for being cautious. 660 00:35:35,333 --> 00:35:38,102 Gebert: This seriously affected the pilot's career. 661 00:35:38,169 --> 00:35:40,738 Narrator: He was never chosen to fly for the president again. 662 00:35:40,805 --> 00:35:44,008 Gebert: There was no direct pressure from the president. 663 00:35:44,075 --> 00:35:47,278 But we all know, and certainly the pilots remembered, 664 00:35:47,345 --> 00:35:51,015 what happened when the pilot refused to land in Tbilisi. 665 00:35:52,650 --> 00:35:55,119 Polish Investigator: He probably didn't want to lose his job. 666 00:35:57,522 --> 00:36:00,224 Protasiuk: Mr. Director, the fog has rolled in. 667 00:36:00,291 --> 00:36:03,828 We'll make an attempt, but it probably won't work. 668 00:36:03,895 --> 00:36:07,465 Narrator: No one wants to disappoint a president. 669 00:36:07,532 --> 00:36:10,368 Though Protasiuk knew landing was risky, 670 00:36:10,434 --> 00:36:12,236 he may have wanted to show his passengers 671 00:36:12,303 --> 00:36:14,372 that he was willing to try. 672 00:36:18,776 --> 00:36:20,478 Lasek: To be clear, 673 00:36:20,545 --> 00:36:24,348 this person did not give any instructions, 674 00:36:24,415 --> 00:36:26,217 but just his presence in the cockpit 675 00:36:26,284 --> 00:36:27,818 interrupted the work flow, 676 00:36:27,885 --> 00:36:31,422 the decision making and communication among the crew. 677 00:36:34,559 --> 00:36:36,627 Controller: Polish air force 101, 678 00:36:36,694 --> 00:36:37,995 we have fog. 679 00:36:38,062 --> 00:36:39,597 Visibility is 400 meters. 680 00:36:39,664 --> 00:36:40,865 Protasiuk: Understood. 681 00:36:40,932 --> 00:36:43,267 Polish air force 101. 682 00:36:43,334 --> 00:36:46,170 Narrator: Having to communicate with the tower in Russian 683 00:36:46,237 --> 00:36:48,606 only made things more stressful. 684 00:36:52,877 --> 00:36:55,012 Narrator: All the pressure may have led the captain 685 00:36:55,079 --> 00:36:57,281 to make a fatal mistake. 686 00:36:57,348 --> 00:36:58,749 Protasiuk: Continuing our approach. 687 00:36:58,816 --> 00:37:01,118 If we're unsuccessful, we'll go around on autopilot. 688 00:37:01,185 --> 00:37:04,755 Narrator: He plans to engage the autopilot's "go around" function 689 00:37:04,822 --> 00:37:08,492 to climb away from the airport if he doesn't like what he sees. 690 00:37:08,559 --> 00:37:09,794 Pushing the "go around" button 691 00:37:09,860 --> 00:37:12,196 should quickly increase power to the engines, 692 00:37:12,263 --> 00:37:14,332 enabling the plane to climb. 693 00:37:14,398 --> 00:37:16,867 Narrator: But that can't work at this airport. 694 00:37:19,236 --> 00:37:20,871 Lasek: The key error 695 00:37:20,938 --> 00:37:23,107 was the assumption that it would be possible to climb 696 00:37:23,174 --> 00:37:25,142 in autopilot mode. 697 00:37:27,211 --> 00:37:30,047 Narrator: For the "go around" function to work, 698 00:37:30,114 --> 00:37:32,183 the autopilot must work with something 699 00:37:32,250 --> 00:37:35,086 called an instrument landing system, or ILS, 700 00:37:35,152 --> 00:37:37,788 at the airport. 701 00:37:37,855 --> 00:37:40,591 But Smolensk airbase no longer has one. 702 00:37:40,658 --> 00:37:43,327 Computer alarm: Terrain, terrain. Pull up. 703 00:37:43,394 --> 00:37:44,562 Navigator: 100 meters. 704 00:37:44,629 --> 00:37:47,164 Computer alarm: Pull up. Terrain, terrain, pull up. 705 00:37:47,231 --> 00:37:50,101 Protasiuk: We are leaving for a go-around. 706 00:37:50,167 --> 00:37:51,736 Narrator: Protasiuk waited five seconds 707 00:37:51,802 --> 00:37:53,904 for the plane to climb out on its own 708 00:37:53,971 --> 00:37:56,841 before realizing he'd made an error. 709 00:37:56,907 --> 00:37:58,309 Navigator: 90 meters. 710 00:37:58,376 --> 00:38:01,545 Narrator: By the time he realizes his mistake, 711 00:38:01,612 --> 00:38:02,780 it's too late. 712 00:38:04,515 --> 00:38:06,017 There's no dispute-- 713 00:38:06,083 --> 00:38:08,919 the crew mishandled the approach. 714 00:38:08,986 --> 00:38:10,187 But Polish investigators 715 00:38:10,254 --> 00:38:12,189 don't think they are the only ones at fault. 716 00:38:12,256 --> 00:38:14,659 Controller: Approaching outer marker. 717 00:38:14,725 --> 00:38:15,993 On course. 718 00:38:18,929 --> 00:38:20,731 Narrator: The air traffic controllers 719 00:38:20,798 --> 00:38:24,335 were responsible for guiding the plane to a safe landing. 720 00:38:24,402 --> 00:38:27,304 They knew visibility was extremely poor, 721 00:38:27,371 --> 00:38:30,041 so why did they go along with Protasiuk's plan 722 00:38:30,107 --> 00:38:32,677 to make a trial descent? 723 00:38:32,743 --> 00:38:35,746 Controller: Polish 101 acknowledge. 724 00:38:35,813 --> 00:38:38,182 Polish air force, we have fog. 725 00:38:38,249 --> 00:38:41,085 Visibility is 400 meters. 726 00:38:41,152 --> 00:38:42,520 Narrator: Polish investigators 727 00:38:42,586 --> 00:38:45,790 need to know more about how Russian air traffic control 728 00:38:45,856 --> 00:38:47,925 may have contributed to the tragedy. 729 00:38:51,896 --> 00:38:54,298 Miller: There's no doubt that the air traffic controller 730 00:38:54,365 --> 00:38:56,100 has a vital role, 731 00:38:56,167 --> 00:38:59,270 especially when the clouds and fog are so bad 732 00:38:59,336 --> 00:39:01,372 that you can't see the ground. 733 00:39:03,274 --> 00:39:05,609 Michalak: Temperature and pressure, please. 734 00:39:05,676 --> 00:39:07,011 Controller: Temperature is plus two. 735 00:39:07,078 --> 00:39:09,914 Pressure is 7-4-5. 736 00:39:09,980 --> 00:39:12,616 We do not have landing conditions. 737 00:39:12,683 --> 00:39:15,186 Narrator: The investigators are surprised to discover 738 00:39:15,252 --> 00:39:17,054 that even though the air base knew 739 00:39:17,121 --> 00:39:19,790 it would be handling a very important flight that day... 740 00:39:19,857 --> 00:39:22,293 Controller: Are you at 500 meters? 741 00:39:22,359 --> 00:39:25,863 Narrator: ...the controllers seem unprepared to receive it. 742 00:39:29,900 --> 00:39:32,870 Interviews with the Russian air traffic controllers 743 00:39:32,937 --> 00:39:35,439 reveal that they had difficulty tracking the plane 744 00:39:35,506 --> 00:39:37,942 on its descent. 745 00:39:38,008 --> 00:39:40,344 Controller: We asked him to report his altitude. 746 00:39:41,912 --> 00:39:43,614 Lasek: The Smolensk airport 747 00:39:43,681 --> 00:39:46,650 is a very poorly equipped airport. 748 00:39:46,717 --> 00:39:49,053 Controller: Polish air force, 749 00:39:49,120 --> 00:39:51,555 are you at 500 meters? 750 00:39:51,622 --> 00:39:54,091 Protasiuk: We are at 500 meters. 751 00:39:54,158 --> 00:39:56,627 Narrator: The controllers had to rely on the captain 752 00:39:56,694 --> 00:39:59,029 to report his altitude. 753 00:39:59,096 --> 00:40:02,733 Polish investigators speculate that the equipment in Smolensk 754 00:40:02,800 --> 00:40:06,470 wasn't providing a clear image of the plane's location. 755 00:40:06,537 --> 00:40:10,941 The controller could not be sure if the plane was on course. 756 00:40:11,008 --> 00:40:12,676 Controller: Approaching outer marker. 757 00:40:12,743 --> 00:40:15,679 On course. 758 00:40:15,746 --> 00:40:17,648 Miller: The controller confirmed 759 00:40:17,715 --> 00:40:21,485 that the plane was on the flight path. 760 00:40:21,552 --> 00:40:23,354 The moment it went below the flight path, 761 00:40:23,420 --> 00:40:26,490 the risk of disaster rose dramatically. 762 00:40:28,859 --> 00:40:30,628 Narrator: The controller confirmed 763 00:40:30,694 --> 00:40:33,597 the plane was on the correct approach path 764 00:40:33,664 --> 00:40:36,667 when, in fact, it was dangerously low. 765 00:40:36,734 --> 00:40:41,806 Lasek: There's no doubt that the airport was not ready. 766 00:40:41,872 --> 00:40:43,107 Narrator: The thickening fog 767 00:40:43,174 --> 00:40:45,709 only increased the level of tension and confusion 768 00:40:45,776 --> 00:40:47,378 in the control tower. 769 00:40:47,444 --> 00:40:49,246 Controller: I just don't think we should bring him in. 770 00:40:49,313 --> 00:40:51,148 It makes no sense right now. 771 00:40:51,215 --> 00:40:54,084 Narrator: Before the president's plane reached the airport, 772 00:40:54,151 --> 00:40:58,122 the controllers knew it would be almost impossible to land. 773 00:40:58,189 --> 00:40:59,490 But they didn't have the authority 774 00:40:59,557 --> 00:41:01,325 to turn the jet away. 775 00:41:03,627 --> 00:41:06,397 Controller: We have to find an alternate for the poles. 776 00:41:06,463 --> 00:41:07,965 We just don't have the weather. 777 00:41:08,032 --> 00:41:11,268 Polish Investigator: They didn't want the plane to land. 778 00:41:11,335 --> 00:41:14,171 Lasek: They tried to convince their superiors 779 00:41:14,238 --> 00:41:17,308 that this airplane should be redirected to another airport 780 00:41:17,374 --> 00:41:20,277 before they even started the landing procedure. 781 00:41:25,916 --> 00:41:27,451 Stepchenkov: The decision whether or not 782 00:41:27,518 --> 00:41:29,687 the President of Poland's should fly to Russia's 783 00:41:29,753 --> 00:41:32,623 and where he should land is not made in Smolensk. 784 00:41:32,690 --> 00:41:34,892 It is not made by the head of flight operations 785 00:41:34,959 --> 00:41:36,794 or by the air traffic controllers. 786 00:41:36,861 --> 00:41:38,562 But the fact is that the conditions 787 00:41:38,629 --> 00:41:41,198 did not permit any kind of plane to land, 788 00:41:41,265 --> 00:41:43,667 especially a plane full of VIPs. 789 00:41:43,734 --> 00:41:46,871 Narrator: The controller was waiting for captain Protasiuk 790 00:41:46,937 --> 00:41:49,440 to make the decision not to land. 791 00:41:49,506 --> 00:41:52,109 Controller: We do not have landing conditions. 792 00:41:52,176 --> 00:41:53,577 Protasiuk: Continuing our approach. 793 00:41:53,644 --> 00:41:56,046 If we're unsuccessful, we'll go around on autopilot. 794 00:42:00,784 --> 00:42:03,287 Controller: It's his call. 795 00:42:03,354 --> 00:42:05,155 Let them continue on their own. 796 00:42:08,092 --> 00:42:11,328 Lasek: I think that the same indirect pressure 797 00:42:11,395 --> 00:42:13,163 that was experienced by the captain 798 00:42:13,230 --> 00:42:15,733 of the TU-154 aircraft 799 00:42:15,799 --> 00:42:18,369 was shared by the ATC controllers 800 00:42:18,435 --> 00:42:20,671 because of the nature of this flight. 801 00:42:23,874 --> 00:42:26,677 Stepchenkov: It all happened because of outside forces. 802 00:42:26,744 --> 00:42:28,946 The crew and the group of flight operators, 803 00:42:29,013 --> 00:42:31,515 they became hostages of the situation. 804 00:42:31,582 --> 00:42:33,183 Narrator: Although both reports 805 00:42:33,250 --> 00:42:35,619 criticize the actions of the pilots, 806 00:42:35,686 --> 00:42:37,755 the Polish report goes further, 807 00:42:37,821 --> 00:42:41,425 criticizing the Smolensk airport for its poor performance. 808 00:42:41,492 --> 00:42:43,427 Controller: Approaching outer marker. 809 00:42:43,494 --> 00:42:44,995 On course. 810 00:42:50,567 --> 00:42:53,971 Miller: The fact they confirmed that the flight path was correct 811 00:42:54,038 --> 00:42:55,272 when it wasn't 812 00:42:55,339 --> 00:42:58,509 may have been because their equipment was faulty. 813 00:43:03,280 --> 00:43:05,816 Gebert: The Russians were much more evasive 814 00:43:05,883 --> 00:43:07,117 than the poles. 815 00:43:07,184 --> 00:43:10,788 Poles frankly took on their responsibility 816 00:43:10,854 --> 00:43:15,426 the way the Russians did not take up theirs. 817 00:43:15,492 --> 00:43:17,861 Narrator: In the wake of the disaster, 818 00:43:17,928 --> 00:43:21,098 the special regiment assigned to transport Polish officials 819 00:43:21,165 --> 00:43:22,866 is disbanded. 820 00:43:25,436 --> 00:43:27,104 In July 2011, 821 00:43:27,171 --> 00:43:29,206 15 months after the crash, 822 00:43:29,273 --> 00:43:31,675 Poland's interior minister Jerzy Miller 823 00:43:31,742 --> 00:43:34,211 presents his findings to the world. 824 00:43:34,278 --> 00:43:36,413 The Russians dispute his report's conclusions 825 00:43:36,480 --> 00:43:38,949 about Smolensk air traffic control. 826 00:43:39,016 --> 00:43:41,552 Despite two reports to the contrary, 827 00:43:41,618 --> 00:43:43,654 deep suspicions persist, 828 00:43:43,721 --> 00:43:48,025 including the belief that the president was assassinated. 829 00:43:48,092 --> 00:43:49,426 Gebert: You have people 830 00:43:49,493 --> 00:43:52,596 who are desperately trying to understand what happened 831 00:43:52,663 --> 00:43:54,932 and they're given information 832 00:43:54,999 --> 00:43:56,667 they're not qualified to assess. 833 00:43:56,734 --> 00:44:00,237 I mean, I'm not qualified to assess information 834 00:44:00,304 --> 00:44:02,573 of the Russian or the Polish commission 835 00:44:02,639 --> 00:44:03,741 or of the counter experts. 836 00:44:03,807 --> 00:44:05,809 I'm not an expert. 837 00:44:05,876 --> 00:44:09,580 So finally I have to decide whose experts do I trust? 838 00:44:09,646 --> 00:44:11,415 Narrator: In the end, 839 00:44:11,482 --> 00:44:15,119 two historic adversaries managed to put aside their differences 840 00:44:15,185 --> 00:44:18,122 and work together for a common goal. 841 00:44:19,656 --> 00:44:21,792 Miller: The goal is simple. 842 00:44:21,859 --> 00:44:27,131 Every accident must teach us a lesson... 843 00:44:27,197 --> 00:44:28,832 How to train the crew 844 00:44:28,899 --> 00:44:31,468 to make safety their highest priority 845 00:44:31,535 --> 00:44:33,203 when making decisions. 846 00:44:37,574 --> 00:44:40,377 Unfortunately, learning that lesson 847 00:44:40,444 --> 00:44:42,880 has come at a very high cost.