Daijiworld Media Network - Montana

Kalispell, Aug 12: A small single-engine aircraft carrying four people crash-landed at Montana’s Kalispell City Airport on Monday afternoon, colliding with multiple parked planes and triggering a dramatic fire — yet all occupants miraculously escaped serious injury.

The crash occurred around 2:00 p.m. local time. Initial findings from the Kalispell Police Department and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) suggest the pilot lost control during the landing approach. The aircraft skidded along the runway before smashing into several stationary planes, igniting a fast-spreading blaze.

Thick black smoke and towering flames engulfed parts of the tarmac and spread into adjacent grassy areas, prompting a swift response from emergency crews. Witnesses described the impact as explosive.

“It sounded like a giant bass drum being hit with full force,” recalled Ron Danielson, manager of a nearby inn who watched the scene unfold.

Incredibly, all four people on board managed to exit the downed aircraft unaided. Kalispell Police Chief Jordan Venezio confirmed that two passengers sustained minor injuries and were treated on site.

The fire caused significant damage to multiple parked planes, but firefighters successfully contained the flames before they could spread further. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched a formal investigation to determine the cause of the crash.

The aircraft had departed from Pullman, Washington. While Kalispell City Airport resumed limited operations later in the day, a full damage evaluation is ongoing.