TU-154

The Polish Air Force is awaiting clarification after a Russian Tupolev of the same series that crashed in Smolensk last April killing President Kaczynski showed problems during a flight led by a pilot instructor.

The Russian Air Agency has already recommended the suspension of aircraft of this type (Tu-154), used by the Polish government, apparently anxious about further problems.

The matter prompted some alarm, owing to an article in the Polityka magazine, but Lieutenant Colonel Robert Kupracz of the Polish Air Force says that the glitch was an ordinary incident, and that the plane would continue to be used for flight training.

Matters went awry shortly after take-off, when there was a problem with the wing flaps, potentially leading to further malfunctions.

As manufacturers of the plane, Russian authorities must now clarify the matter. (nh)
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Source: Polskie Radio