A transport plane made an emergency landing on Thursday on a frozen lake close to the Estonian capital, Tallinn, according to news reports.

The Antonov-26 aircraft, operated by Polish company Exin, was reported to be arriving from Finland with cargo on behalf of the DHL delivery company.

It landed on frozen Lake Ulemiste on the city's outskirts after landing gear jammed and it developed engine problems as it approached Tallinn airport, according to initial reports.

Tallinn Airport board member Erik Sakkov told BNS that the aircraft did not sustain extensive damage and six people on board survived the emergency landing.

Lake Ulemiste supplies most of the drinking water for Tallinn. The harshest winter for at least 30 years in the Baltic states ensured the ice was thick enough to withstand the landing of the plane which has a maximum payload of 5.5 tons and a maximum take-off weight of 24 tons. - Sapa-dpa