A tragic accident at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina claimed the lives of seven people, including former Nascar driver Greg Biffle and his family, officials confirmed.
The Cessna C550 aircraft crashed while attempting to land around 10:20 a.m. local time (15:20 GMT), leaving the jet engulfed in flames upon impact.
Highway patrol sources confirmed that Biffle was on board with his wife, daughter, and son. The crash also took the lives of three other passengers, though their identities have not yet been released.
"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 said in a statement. "His passion for racing, his integrity, and his commitment to fans and fellow competitors alike made a lasting impact on the sport."
Beyond his achievements on the track, Biffle was remembered for his humanitarian efforts. Following Hurricane Helene last year, he used his personal helicopter to rescue residents stranded by flooding and to deliver essential supplies across North Carolina.
Tributes poured in after the news broke. North Carolina Governor Josh Stein described the incident as “heartbreaking” and praised Biffle for his courage and compassion, especially his efforts to support communities in western North Carolina.
Motorsport YouTuber Garrett Mitchell expressed shock on social media, writing, "Unfortunately, I can confirm Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, and son Ryder were on that plane… because they were on their way to spend the afternoon with us. We are devastated. I'm so sorry to share this."
Statesville Airport Director John Ferguson said the jet was already engulfed in flames when emergency teams arrived. The aircraft, a corporate jet associated with Biffle through a private company, had taken off around 10:06 a.m. but crashed shortly after while approaching the runway’s east end.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the crash, and the airport remains closed as crews clear the wreckage.
The National Transportation Safety Board has dispatched a team to lead the investigation. The Statesville Regional Airport, owned by the city and located about 45 minutes north of Charlotte, serves Fortune 500 companies and several Nascar racing teams.
Biffle, 55, was widely recognized for his two-decade racing career. He won 19 Cup Series races across the Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series and was named one of Nascar's 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023.
Born in Vancouver, Washington, Biffle rose to prominence in 1995 during the Nascar Winter Heat Series. He earned the 1998 Rookie of the Year award in the Craftsman Truck Series and won the 2000 series championship, later becoming the first driver to win championships in both the Xfinity and Truck Series.
Even after scaling back his racing after 2016, Biffle returned for a one-off race at Texas Motor Speedway in 2019, claiming victory. Reflecting on his career, he told Nascar.com in 2021, "Racing is racing. It's that adrenaline, you want to be better than the competition, you want to build a better piece and have a faster car. I just enjoy the competition."
