A small plane crashed into several parked aircraft at Kalispell City Airport on Monday afternoon, sparking a large fire but miraculously causing no serious injuries, authorities confirmed.
The incident occurred at around 2 p.m. when a Socata TBM700N carrying four people attempted to land. According to Kalispell Police Chief Jordan Venezio and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a preliminary investigation indicates the pilot lost control of the aircraft during the landing attempt.
The plane crashed onto the runway before colliding with multiple parked planes, triggering fires that engulfed several aircraft and spread to a nearby grassy area. Emergency crews quickly contained the blaze, preventing further damage.
“All four people aboard escaped without serious injury,” Chief Venezio said. “Given the severity of the crash and subsequent fire, it’s remarkable that there were no fatalities.”
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the cause of the crash. Airport operations were temporarily suspended while crews cleared debris and assessed the damage.
Kalispell City Airport remains open, but some flight schedules may be disrupted due to the loss of multiple aircraft in the blaze.
