Four people escaped without serious injury after a single-engine aircraft collided with a parked plane at Kalispell City Airport in Montana, triggering an explosion and fire.
The incident occurred at approximately 2pm local time when the aircraft veered off the runway during landing and struck a stationary jet. Flames quickly engulfed both planes, producing thick plumes of smoke visible from a distance.
According to Kalispell Fire Chief Jay Hagen, the aircraft crash-landed near the end of the runway before hitting the parked plane. The second aircraft was unoccupied at the time of impact. All three passengers and the pilot exited the damaged aircraft unaided, with two receiving treatment for minor injuries.
Local police said a preliminary investigation indicated the pilot lost control before the collision, which also damaged several other parked aircraft. The resulting fire spread to a grassy area adjacent to the airport before being brought under control.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud, resonant sound moments before the crash. Ron Danielson, who manages a nearby inn, described the noise as similar to “sticking your head in a bass drum and somebody smacking it as hard as they could.”
Emergency services remained on site to assess damage and secure the area while aviation authorities launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.