Kalispell, Montana — A routine landing attempt turned into a fiery spectacle at Kalispell City Airport on Monday afternoon, when a single-engine plane carrying four people lost control, slammed into multiple parked aircraft, and set off a blaze that consumed several planes.
Authorities said the crash, which occurred at around 2 p.m., could have ended in tragedy — but miraculously, there were no serious injuries. The aircraft, identified as a Socata TBM 700 turboprop built in 2011 and owned by Meter Sky LLC of Pullman, Washington, had originated from Pullman earlier in the day.
Sequence of the Crash
According to Kalispell Police Chief Jordan Venezio, a preliminary investigation shows the pilot lost control upon landing, causing the plane to skid across the runway before violently colliding with several stationary aircraft. The impact triggered fires that spread rapidly across multiple planes and into a grassy area near the tarmac.
Witnesses reported hearing a thunderous boom, followed by thick, black plumes rising over the airport.
“It sounded as if you were to stick your head in a bass drum and someone smacked it as hard as they could,” said Ron Danielson, who manages a nearby inn.
Kalispell Fire Chief Jay Hagen confirmed that the four passengers managed to escape on their own once the plane came to rest. Two suffered minor injuries and were treated on-site.
An Accident That Fits a Troubling Global Pattern
While this Montana incident was contained quickly, it joins a troubling list of aviation mishaps — from mid-air mechanical failures to runway collisions — that continue to occur worldwide despite technological advances and stricter safety protocols.
Aviation safety consultant Jeff Guzzetti, who has investigated crashes for both the FAA and the NTSB, noted that incidents where an aircraft collides with parked planes happen “a few times a year” in general aviation. And while most don’t result in mass casualties, the property damage and potential for disaster remain high.
Earlier this year, in February, a high-profile crash occurred when a Learjet owned by Mötley Crüe singer Vince Neil veered off a runway in Scottsdale, Arizona, smashing into a parked Gulfstream and killing one person. The NTSB later revealed that the accident might have been linked to prior landing gear damage, but the cause remains under investigation.
Globally, 2024 and 2025 have seen multiple high-visibility incidents — from small private planes forced into emergency landings due to engine failures, to major commercial flights diverted after sudden mid-air technical snags. Many of these have been linked to a mix of pilot error, mechanical faults, weather hazards, and in some rare but dangerous cases, inadequate maintenance.
Safety Measures Under Scrutiny
The Kalispell crash, while lacking fatalities, is a stark reminder that aviation safety is not infallible. In smaller, city-owned airports like Kalispell’s — located just south of the city of 30,000 in northwest Montana — quick emergency response and effective coordination often make the difference between a close call and a catastrophe.
As global air travel continues to grow, the challenge for regulators and operators alike will be closing the gaps that allow these “freak” accidents to keep happening — on runways, in hangars, and thousands of feet above the ground.
Global Civil Aviation Fatalities
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By mid-2025, total civil aviation fatalities globally will have exceeded 460, according to Jan-Arwed Richter of JACDEC
Major Individual Crashes
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Air India Flight 171: On June 12, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed just after takeoff in Ahmedabad, India, resulting in the deaths of 241 people aboard and 19 people on the ground, bringing the total fatalities to 260.
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Potomac River Mid-Air Collision: A regional jet collided with a helicopter near Washington, D.C., killing 67 people..
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Light Air Services Beechcraft 1900 crash in South Sudan: On January 29, this charter flight crashed shortly after takeoff, killing 20 of the 21 on board.
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Dhaka Fighter Jet Crash: On July 21, a Bangladesh Air Force jet crashed into a school campus, killing 35 (including ground fatalities) and injuring 1.73
U.S.-Only Fatalities
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According to U.S. NTSB data cited by Fox4 Dallas–Fort Worth, there have been 60 deadly aviation crashes in the U.S. in 2025, resulting in at least 188 fatalities
(These figures, taken from a data source, may vary)
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