9 died: Turkish plane crash in Amsterdam
February 25, 2009 – 3:06 pmAMSTERDAM – A Turkish Airlines plane with 135 people aboard slammed into a field while attempting to land at Amsterdam’s main airport Wednesday, killing nine people and injuring more than 50, the area’s acting mayor said.
The aircraft fractured into three pieces on impact. The fuselage split in two, close to the cockpit, and the tail broke off. One engine was visible lying almost intact near the wreck in the muddy field and the other was some 200 yards (200 meters) from the plane and heavily damaged, an Associated Press photographer at the scene said.
The airline had said at first that everyone survived. But at a news conference later, Michel Bezuijen, acting mayor of Haarlemmermeer, reported the fatalities.
“At this moment there are nine victims to mourn and more than 50 injured,” he said.
At least 25 of the injured were in a serious condition and that the injured included crew members and passengers alike.
He said there was no immediate word on the cause of the crash.