Two people died Saturday when a small plane veered off the runway and caught fire at a private recreational airstrip near West Glacier, according to information provided by the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities have not yet publicly released the victims’ names or ages, or information about where they are from or the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident.

According to the sheriff’s office, Flathead County emergency services personnel responded July 26 to a report that a private aircraft had gone off the runway at Ryan Field, one mile southeast of West Glacier, at approximately 9:41 a.m.

“Upon arrival, responding units located the aircraft fully engulfed in flames and immediately initiated fire suppression efforts,” according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.

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