Flights of Polish Tu-154M suspended - Klich

National Defence Minister Bogdan Klich banned VIPs trips aboard Tu-154M planes. The decision followed a recommendation of the Russian Aviation Agency that exploitation of said machines should be suspended.

"I banned VIPs to use Tu-154M owned by Poland," Klich told RMF FM radio on Friday. The ban will be in force until the Russian side explains whether its reservations relate also to the model of the plane owned by Poland. "By that time the planes in question will be used for training or experimental flights," the minister added.

At the start of March the Russian information agencies reported that the local aviation agency recommended that the use of Tu-154M should be suspended "owing to faulty design that increased failure hazards."

One Tu-154M owned by Poland crashed while attempting to land at Smolensk airport killing 96 Polish VIPs including then President Lech Kaczynski and his wife Maria.

The plane aboard which Polish officials were flying to ceremonies marking the 70th anniversary in Katyn was one of two machines in the fleet of the 36 special aviation transport regiment assigned for VIPs. (km)

==pap