Investigators: Pilots ignored traffic controllers

Russian investigators have suggested that human error may have been the cause of the plane crash. They said there were no technical problems with the Soviet-made plane.

The Tu-154 went down while trying to land on Saturday in dense fog near Smolensk airport in western Russia.

The pilot had been warned of bad weather in the area, and was advised by traffic controllers to land at an alternate airport.

Polish investigators have not yet listened to the cockpit's voice recorder from the recovered black boxes. But they said they will investigate any suggestions made to the pilots from other people on board the plane.

Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (C), Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu (L) and Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov visit the site of a Polish government Tupolev Tu-154 aircraft crash near Smolensk airport April 10, 2010. REUTERS/Ria Novosti/Pool/Alexei Nikolsky