Walentynowicz died in a plane crash near Smolensk on 10 April 2010 , along with President Lech Kaczyński , First Lady Maria Kaczyńska , and many other prominent Polish leaders , while en route to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre during World War II . A plaque on her house in Wrzeszcz , a borough of Gdańsk , has recently been dedicated and the city of Gdynia named an intersection after her . Michael Szporer , Professor of Communications at University of Maryland wrote about her : " Her life was very much like Poland 's , never nothing , but if you are not afraid to speak up for yourself and care for others , just look what you can become , '' Pani Ania '' , a worthier role model than most , because an honest one . Our caring and protective mother ! " Exhumation in 2012 revealed that a different person – Teresa Walewska-Przyjałkowska – was buried in Anna Walentynowicz 's grave . Upon the discovery , the bodies were reburied in the correct graves
Katyn massacre
Katyn massacre
Anna Walentynowicz