AT least nine people died and another 50 were left injured when a packed plane crashed and broke into pieces as it prepared to land this morning.

AT least nine people died and another 50 were left injured when a packed plane crashed and broke into pieces as it prepared to land this morning.

The Turkish Airlines Boeing 737, flying to Amsterdam's Schiphol airport from Istanbul, crashed in a field just short of the runway.

Both of the plane's engines were torn off and the fuselage fractured into three pieces.

But amazingly many of the 145 passengers and crew escaped unhurt.

An investigation into the cause of the crash has been launched. Terrorism is not thought to be a factor.