Montana, Aug 12:
What could have been a devastating tragedy turned into a miracle at Montana’s Kalispell City Airport on Monday afternoon. A small single-engine plane, carrying four people, crashed into a parked aircraft while attempting to land — sparking a massive fire that engulfed parts of the runway — yet incredibly, no one suffered serious injuries.
The crash happened around 2:00 p.m. local time. Early findings from the Kalispell Police Department and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) suggest the pilot lost control during landing. The plane skidded down the runway, colliding with several parked planes before flames erupted, racing across the tarmac and licking at the grassy edges of the airport.
Dark, heavy smoke twisted into the sky, breaking the calm of the small regional airport. Witnesses described the sound and sight as unforgettable.
“It sounded as if you were to stick your head in a bass drum and somebody smacked it as hard as they could,” recalled Ron Danielson, who runs a nearby inn and saw the crash unfold.
Against all odds, all four passengers managed to escape the burning aircraft on their own. Kalispell Police Chief Jordan Venezio confirmed two people had minor injuries, treated right there on the scene.
Multiple aircraft parked on the ground were damaged in the fire, but firefighters moved swiftly, containing the flames before they spread further. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating exactly what went wrong.
The ill-fated flight began in Pullman, Washington. While the cause of the loss of control remains under review, the Kalispell City Airport has cautiously reopened for limited operations. For now, the community is simply grateful that a day filled with fire, smoke, and fear did not end in tragedy.
