A collision involving at least one small aircraft ignited a large fireball at Kalispell City Airport in northwest Montana on Monday afternoon, 11 August. Thick black smoke could be seen rising over the airfield and the nearby downtown area, according to images shared locally. Police, firefighters and Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino’s deputies sealed off the airport while rescue crews searched the wreckage. Authorities have not yet confirmed the number of people aboard the aircraft, the extent of injuries or the types of planes involved. The runway remains closed while investigators secure the scene. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are expected to lead a formal inquiry into the cause of the crash.