Plane hits parked aircraft during Montana airport landing.
Montana Airport Plane Crash Sparks Fires — No Serious Injuries Reported
Airport, sparking a massive fire.
The incident occurred on August 11, 2025, shortly after 2 p.m., when a single-engine aircraft carrying four people attempted to land. According to Kalispell Police Chief Jordan Venezio and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the pilot appeared to lose control during the landing approach. Preliminary findings suggest that the plane touched down hard on the runway, veered off course, and slammed into multiple parked planes.
Authorities say the fire also spread to a nearby grassy area before being brought under control by emergency responders.
“It could have been much worse,” Venezio said at a press briefing. “Our fire crews, airport staff, and police officers responded within minutes and were able to prevent the fire from spreading further into hangars or other occupied areas.”
Inside the crashed aircraft, the four occupants experienced a terrifying few seconds that felt much longer. The moment the plane came to a stop, they scrambled to unbuckle their seatbelts and push open the cabin doors.
Two of the passengers suffered minor injuries — bumps, bruises, and what appeared to be mild smoke inhalation — but both were treated right at the airport and did not require hospitalization. The pilot, whose name has not been released, appeared shaken but unharmed.
The Kalispell Police Department, FAA, and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have all launched investigations into the cause of the crash. While early indications point to a loss of control during landing, investigators will be looking at several factors, including possible mechanical issues, weather conditions at the time, and pilot experience.
For many local residents, the sight of fire trucks and ambulances rushing toward the small municipal airport was unsettling. “I saw this column of black smoke rising and thought, ‘Oh no, not here,’” said Kalispell resident Emily Moore, who was driving nearby at the time. “We’re a small community. Things like this just don’t happen often, and it really shakes you.”
Fortunately, the airport was not busy at the time, and no one on the ground was injured. Still, several aircraft were damaged or destroyed, and airport officials are working to assess the full extent of the losses.
The event also brought to mind other high-profile runway accidents in recent memory. In February of this year, a Learjet owned by Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil veered off a runway in Scottsdale, Arizona, slamming into a parked Gulfstream jet. That crash killed one person and caused significant damage. The NTSB later reported that prior damage to the landing gear might have played a role, though a final cause has not yet been determined.
Aviation experts say runway mishaps, while relatively rare, can be especially dangerous because of the proximity to other planes, hangars, and fuel storage areas. “Airports are designed with fire prevention in mind, but when you have aircraft coming into contact unexpectedly — especially at speed — the risk of fire is always high,” said retired FAA investigator Mark Benson.
In Kalispell, the flames were extinguished within an hour, but the investigation will take much longer. FAA and NTSB officials were already on-site by Monday evening, photographing debris, examining flight control systems, and interviewing witnesses. The pilot will also likely undergo drug and alcohol testing, as is standard procedure after such incidents.
For the four people on board, the experience will no doubt remain etched in memory. “They’re very lucky to be walking away from this,” Hagen emphasized. “We’re talking about a plane crash followed by multiple fires — and yet, here we are with no fatalities and only minor injuries. That’s a blessing.”
The Kalispell City Airport remains open but with certain areas cordoned off while investigators work. Damaged aircraft are being moved, and cleanup crews are removing debris from the runway.
In the end, this was a frightening reminder that even routine landings can turn dangerous in an instant — but also a testament to quick emergency response, solid training, and perhaps a little bit of luck.