Two Planes Crash In Montana

Two small, private airplanes collided in the air about 10 miles north of here Sunday afternoon and there were multiple deaths, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

The agency’s office in Seattle confirmed the accident but a spokeswoman said it was unknown how many people were aboard the aircraft, other than the pilots.

The area, in the commercial approach lane to Gallatin Field, the airport at Belgrade, was sealed off. Dispatchers at the Gallatin County sheriff’s office refused to discuss the accident.

A witness who went to the scene shortly after the 3 p.m. collision said wreckage was scattered over at least a half mile.

The FAA said an inspector was dispatched from Helena, about 100 miles from the scene, and other details were not available.