A passenger plane operated by Turkish Airlines crashed today while landing at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, an airport spokesman told AFP .

"It's a Turkish Airlines plane which crashed as it was approaching the runway," said Melanie Smieder, of the airport's press service.

"All air traffic is blocked," she added.

The aircraft involved was a Boeing 737, she said.

"The fire services and ambulances are on site," airport spokesman Mirjam Snoerwang told Dutch television.

The aircraft had broken into two or three pieces, said media reports from the airport.

Some passengers were seen leaving the plane, Turkey's Anatolia news agency reported.

Media reports said 135 passengers were on board the plane.

"At this moment, there is according to our information nine deaths and more than 50 injured," mayor Michel Bezuijen of the Haarlemmermeer municipality, under which the Schiphol Airport falls, told a press conference.