Non-crew members in cockpit before fatal crash

NON-CREW members were in the cockpit of the plane of Polish president Lech Kaczynski before its fatal crash in Russia, officials said yesterday, raising fresh questions about the tragedy’s cause.

The aviation committee investigating the April 10 crash – Poland’s worst post-World War II disaster – also revealed the jet’s crew had ignored repeated warnings that weather conditions were not suitable for landing.

The investigation found that the pilot’s cabin door was open as the plane tried to land and the voices of the crew were hard to identify, Russian news agency Itar-Tass reported.