Small Jet Collision Sparks Fire at Kalispell Airport, Four Escape with Minor Injuries

A Socata TBM 700 carrying four people crashed into a parked plane at Kalispell City Airport, Montana, igniting a fire that damaged multiple aircraft. All passengers escaped, with two sustaining minor injuries. FAA investigators are probing the cause, and the airport remains partially closed during cleanup operations.

A dramatic incident unfolded at Kalispell City Airport in Montana on Monday afternoon when a small jet carrying four people collided with a parked aircraft, igniting a fire that sent thick smoke billowing into the sky. The crash occurred at approximately 2 p.m., according to Kalispell Police Chief Jordan Venezio and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Video shared online by eyewitness John Carpenter showed plumes of smoke rising from near the airport, later confirmed by NBC Montana to be the aftermath of the collision. The single-engine 2011 Socata TBM 700 turboprop, registered to Meter Sky LLC of Pullman, was attempting to land when the pilot lost control and struck another stationary plane on the runway.

The impact caused both planes to erupt in flames, which quickly spread to other aircraft and surrounding areas. Kalispell Fire Chief Jay Hagen reported that the fire intensified due to nearby greasy surfaces, complicating firefighting efforts.

Miraculously, all four occupants of the moving aircraft managed to escape before the fire engulfed it. Two of them suffered minor injuries but declined further hospitalization. Authorities have not yet released the names of those involved.

FAA investigators are conducting a preliminary probe into the cause of the accident, focusing on why the pilot lost control during landing. The agency confirmed that multiple planes were damaged in the incident, and the extent of destruction to airport facilities is still being assessed.

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The incident has temporarily disrupted operations at Kalispell City Airport, with officials urging the public to avoid the area while emergency crews complete their work. Local residents expressed relief that there were no fatalities but concern over the apparent ease with which the fire spread.