Posted on February 25, 2009 by Fiona Hilliard

A Turkish Airlines plane with 135 people on board has crash landed at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport.

Latest reports from CNN Turk TV station say at least 9 people were killed upon impact and 20 were injured.  The Boeing 737-800 was flying from Istanbul and split into three sections as it landed in a field close to the airport.  Images of the plane on Turkish television show the fuselage split near the front of the wing and the tail section sliced off.

A Turkish Airlines official at Schiphol airport said at least 50 passengers appeared safe.  They were taken outside the plane and were seen making their way through luggage which had been strewn across the scene upon impact.

Schiphol airport, which is one of europe’s busiest, is confirming that the crash has taken place but isn’t revealing any other details.

Interestingly, the first report on the crash came from social media site Twitter, when @nipp posted the message “Airplane crash @ Schiphol Airport Amsterdam!!” at 10:42, just minutes after the crash.

Airport police spokesman Rob Stenacker told Associated Press that emergency services were responding to a reported plane crash but would not give any other information.

All air traffic in the area has been suspended.  Passengers heading to Schiphol airport are advised to contact their individual airline or check their airline’s website for news of cancellations and delays.