Fatal plane crash outside of West Glacier

There has been a fatal small plane crash at the Ryan Field just east of West Glacier.

The Flathead County Sheriff’s Department said at approximately 9:41 a.m. on Saturday (July 26) Flathead County emergency services responded to a report of an aircraft that had gone off the runway at Ryan Field, Upon arrival, responding units located the aircraft fully engulfed in flames and immediately initiated fire suppression efforts.

It has been confirmed that two individuals aboard the aircraft are deceased. The Flathead County Coroner examined the scene and the identification of the deceased is underway, and next of kin notification procedures are in progress.

The Flathead County Coroner’s Office will transport the decedents to the Montana State Crime Lab for autopsies as part of the standard investigative process.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have been notified and have investigators en route to conduct a full investigation into the cause of the incident.

Agencies that responded included the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, Flathead County Coroner’s Office, Hungry Horse Fire Department, Martin City Fire Department, Coram-West Glacier Fire Department, Flathead County Office of Emergency Services, Three Rivers Ambulance, and members of the Flathead County Sheriff’s Posse.