Polish Smolensk crash investigations

In late July 2026, an international panel of experts appointed by the Polish prosecutor’s office released its final report on the 2010 Smolensk plane crash. The investigation, which involved specialists from several European countries and Polish medical universities, concluded that the crash was caused by a high‑impact accident during a difficult landing in poor weather, finding no evidence of any explosive device or sabotage. This finding explicitly ruled out the sabotage hypothesis promoted by a previous sub-committee led by Antoni Macierewicz.

A few days later, on 5 August 2026, the National Prosecutor’s Office announced that it was dropping the separate probe into alleged “diplomatic betrayal” concerning Poland’s cooperation with Russia over the crash investigation. The prosecutor determined that senior officials, including former Prime Minister Donald Tusk and former Sejm Marshal Bronisław Komorowski, had not entered into agreements that harmed Polish interests or constituted diplomatic treason.

Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski welcomed the decision, stating there was no intention to commit treason and criticizing those who spread misinformation. While the prosecutor's office suggested the chosen method of cooperation was the most beneficial for the country, analysts noted that the decision may not fully resolve political tensions, as the Law and Justice (PiS) party has historically maintained theories of a conspiracy.

Together, these developments mark the closure of the major investigative threads that have dominated Polish political debate since the crash: the technical cause of the disaster and the political-legal accusations surrounding the investigation’s handling.