Montana airport blaze forces runway closure

Two small planes crash at Kalispell City Airport in Montana, sparking a large fire and drawing multiple responders.

Montana airport blaze after small plane crash on runway

Two small planes were involved in a crash on the runway at Kalispell City Airport in Montana, triggering a large fire. Officials say one aircraft on the runway appears to have had a mechanical issue before hitting a second plane on the taxiway. Firefighters and police arrived quickly, and the airport was closed as crews fought the blaze. At least four people were aboard the crashed aircraft, and two people were treated at the scene for minor injuries. Authorities say no one was aboard the stationary plane when the fire began, and investigations into the cause are ongoing. The incident comes two years after a fatal crash at another Montana airport, a reminder that small airports still face serious safety challenges.

This incident shows how quickly a routine day at a small airport can turn dangerous. The speed of the emergency response matters, and the scene underscores the constant need for clear runway procedures and robust on-site firefighting resources. Investigators will likely examine maintenance records, preflight checks, and the sequence of events on the runway to determine what went wrong. The broader takeaway is not a single fault but a system of factors that can turn a minor mechanical hiccup into a dangerous blaze.

Highlights

How Kalispell and similar airports adapt will shape local aviation safety in the months ahead.