Artur Karol Ziętek

**Artur Karol Ziętek** (October 12th, 1978 - April 10th, 2010) was a lieutenant in the Polish Air Force who died in the Smolensk air disaster in 2010. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of captain.

## Biography

Artur Ziętek was born on October 12th, 1978 in Radom, he lived in Ustronie (a district in Radom) until he graduated from primary school. At a young age, he dreamed of flying.

In 1997 he graduated from the Żwirka and Wigura Aviation High School in Dęblin. In 2001 he graduated from the Air Force Academy in Dęblin and was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant on June 23rd, 2001. Before 2001, he started working in the 10th Tactical Aviation Squadron in Łask as an air force pilot. From November 9th, 2001 to June 30th, 2007 he served in the 2nd Aviation Training Center as a pilot and senior pilot. From July 1st, 2007, he served as the senior pilot of the flight squadron in the 36th Special Transport Aviation Regiment.

In January 2010, he took part in humanitarian aid for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti, for which on February 4, 2010, together with the other members of the 36 SPLT, he was awarded by the commander of the Polish Air Force, Lieutenant General Andrzej Błasik.

Ziętek was a 2nd class pilot. He was licensed to fly as a co-pilot day and night on the Yak-40 aircraft and as a navigator on the Tu-154M. At the time of his death his total flight time was 1069 hours, of which 59 hours on the Tu-154M as a navigator. He had a wife, Magdalena, and two daughters: Patrycja 2 years old and Marta 5 years old.

## Death

Ziętek died in the crash of the Polish Tu-154M plane in Smolensk on April 10th, 2010 on the way to the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre. During the flight, he served as the navigator in the aircraft crew. According to the initial plans, the navigator was supposed to be Piotr Gawłowski, he was the navigator during the flight on April 7th, 2010.

On April 13th, 2010, by the decision of the Minister of National Defense Bogdan Klich, Ziętek was posthumously promoted to the rank of captain.

On April 24th, 2010, Ziętek was buried with military honors at the Municipal Cemetery in Radom. The funeral ceremonies were attended by Bishop Henryk Tomasik and Director General of the Ministry of National Defence, Jacek Olbracht.

## Awards

* Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (2010, posthumously)
* Bronze Medal for Merit for National Defence (unknown year)

## Gallery

Ziętek being awarded by the commander of the Polish Air Force, Lieutenant General Andrzej Błasik
## References

1. ↑ http://www.radom.pl/\_portal/news/12714077224bc8246acabb2/7\_dni%3A\_Nie\_zapomnimy\_.html
2. ↑ https://echodnia.eu/radomskie/wspominamy-artura-zietka-pilota-i-chlopaka-z-ustronia-dziesiec-lat-temu-zginal-w-katastrofie-smolenskiej/ar/c1-14910480
3. ↑ https://www.smolensk.muzhp.pl/index.html%3Fp=1182.html
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://archive.is/20121221084557/http://lotniczapolska.pl/Zaloga-Tupolewa-z-36-splt,12748#selection-383.1-383.871
5. ↑ https://archive.is/yonA
6. ↑ https://poranny.pl/artur-karol-zietek-porucznik-pilot-sylwetka/ar/5304986
7. ↑ J. Osiecki, T. Białoszewski, R. Latkowski, M. Prószyński: *Last flight. Disaster Cause Report* . Warszawa: Prószyński i S-ka, 2011, p. 60. ISBN 978-83-7648-924-7
8. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20181005154644/http://archiwalny.mon.gov.pl/pl/artykul/9089
9. ↑ https://www.dziennikwschodni.pl/kraj-swiat/artur-zietek-zginal-w-katastrofie-w-smolensku-tlumy-pozegnaly-kapitana,n,1000110050.html
10. ↑ https://www.rmf24.pl/raporty/raport-lech-kaczynski-nie-zyje-2/fakty/news-w-radomiu-pochowano-kapitana-artura-zietka,nId,274320#crp\_state=1
11. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20100414124028/http://www.sp.mil.pl/index.php?option=com\_content&view=article&id=730%3Ainformacja&catid=1%3Aaktualnoci&Itemid=109&lang=pl