On 10th April 2010, just before 9:00 in the morning, the government aircraft Tu-154 crashed near Smoleńsk in Russia. Ninety-six people were aboard the aircraft, including the President of the Republic of Poland, commanders of the armed forces, MPs and representatives of the Katyń families. Crowds swirled outside the Presidential Palace. Thousands of candles were lit. Poles from all over the country stood in queues several hours long to reach the public viewing of the coffins of the President [Lech Kaczyński] and his wife [Maria Kaczyńska].
Text courtesy of NAPO Images
Find out more at: https://culture.pl/en/article/the-mourning-of-smolensk-through-the-eyes-of-photojournalists