737 Down In Amsterdam, 9 Killed

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A Boeing 737-800 operated by Turkish Airlines crashed into a farmer’s plowed field in Amsterdam on Wednesday morning while on approach to Schiphol airport. The airplane, which took off from Istanbul, hit the ground about 2,000 feet short of the runway. The engines sheared off and the fuselage split into three pieces. There was no fire. Of the 134 people on board, nine were killed, including the two pilots and a third crewmember who was in the cockpit. Of those who were hurt, 6 were in critical condition, 25 were seriously wounded and 24 had slight injuries, according to the Associated Press. Visibility was reportedly good at the time of the crash, with a low overcast and some light rain and light wind. An official said Turkish Airlines has a good safety record, although the airline has had three fatal crashes since 1983. The 737 was just seven years old. Early reports were inconsistent regarding how much fuel may have been on the airplane and whether it had stalled or was still under control when it hit the ground. Officials said that there was no evidence of a terrorist attack. Investigators have recovered the cockpit voice and flight data recorders, and the NTSB has sent a team to help with the inquiry.

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