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NASCAR legend Greg Biffle and his family were among those killed when his private jet crash-landed near an airport runway in North Carolina.
The Cessna Citation plane was seen engulfed in flames to the right of the runway at Statesville Regional Airport on Thursday morning at around 10:15 am.
NASCAR and grieving loved ones confirmed that none of the seven people on board survived the accident.
Biffle, his wife, Christina and his two children – Ryder and Emma – were four of the fatal victims.
Craig Wadsworth, another NASCAR star, along with father and son Dennis and Jack Dutton, were also killed.
‘Greg was more than a champion driver, he was a beloved member of the NASCAR community, a fierce competitor, and a friend to so many,’ NASCAR wrote on X.
‘His passion for racing, his integrity, and his commitment to fans and fellow competitors alike made a lasting impact on the sport.’
‘Each of them meant everything to us, and their absence leaves an immeasurable void in our lives,’ the tear-jerking statement from the heartbroken relatives reads.
NASCAR driver Greg Biffle reportedly owns the jet that crashed. A close friend said he died in the crash (pictured: Biffle in March 2003)
The plane crashed at Statesville Regional Airport on Thursday morning
GB Aviation Leasing LLC, a company registered under 55-year-old Biffle, is listed as the owner of the aircraft.
Images showed the inferno ripping through the jet – which can cost as much as $2.5 million – as thick black smoke was seen blanketing the air.
The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) told the Daily Mail that the Cessna C550 crashed while attempting to land.
Preliminary flight tracking shows that the aircraft left Statesville Regional Airport, which is about 45 miles north of Charlotte, at around 10 am, CNN reported. It was headed to Sarasota, Florida.
The plane traveled about five miles before turning back toward the airport, although it is unclear why.
Low clouds and visibility of less than three miles were reported in the area of the crash around the time it happened.
There was also light drizzling that abruptly turned into heavy rainfall in the area, according to Fox Weather.
Investigators have not yet said whether these conditions contributed to the accident.
First responders rushed to the scene in North Carolina
Pictured: Biffle and Christina pictured with their son, Ryder, in 2021
Biffle is seen with his wife, Cristina, their five-year-old son, Ryder and Biffle’s daughter, Emma
The plane never flew higher than 2,000 feet above the ground, according to FlightAware data, with witnesses at nearby Lakewood Golf Club noting that it was flying ‘way too low’ before it came down.
The FAA, National Transportation Safety Board and the North Carolina Highway Patrol are investigating the harrowing incident.
A representative for the Iredell County Sheriff told the Daily Mail that units from multiple agencies are on the scene.
The Statesville Regional Airport is owned by the city, and according to its website, it provides facilities for Fortune 500 companies and several NASCAR teams.
This airport has no control tower, meaning pilots must self-report their position using a common radio frequency.
There are 89 aircraft based there, FAA records showed.
Statesville Regional Airport said in a statement: ‘We can confirm there has been an aircraft incident at the Statesville Regional Airport.
‘At approximately 10:15 am, an aircraft crashed while landing. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is en route and will investigate the incident.’
Firefighting crews are seen responding to the plane crash
Biffle, Christina and Ryder (pictured) were among those who passed away in the Thursday crash
Craig Wadsworth, another NASCAR star, also died in the crash
During a brief press conference at 12:30 pm, officials said that the airport is closed and the investigation is active.
The renowned NASCAR driver had a plane scare in March 2011 while landing at a Kentucky airport.
As reported by The Albany Herald at the time, the plane’s right main landing gear failed, and its wing slammed into the runway as Biffle’s pilots attempted to land at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington.
Fortunately, no one was harmed and Biffle characterized it as a ‘small plane incident.’
‘My pilots are purely heroes for maintaining control of the aircraft (and) keeping (it) on the runway,’ Biffle shared on X, then Twitter, at the time.
‘If not it wouldn’t have been the same outcome.’
Last year, Biffle made headlines when he used his helicopter to deliver essential supplies to survivors of Hurricane Helene.
Biffle, who began his successful NASCAR career in 1995, considered himself semi-retired because he still occasionally raced.
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