Six people were killed when a small plane owned by former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle crash landed and exploded into flames at a regional airport in North Carolina on Thursday morning, authorities said.
Biffle, his wife, Cristina, and his two children, Emma and Ryder, were among those killed, according to family friend Garrett Mitchell. In a Facebook post, Mitchell said the family was traveling from Statesville, North Carolina, to visit him in Sarasota, Florida.
“They were on the way to spend the afternoon with us,” wrote Mitchell, who is also known as YouTube personality Cleetus McFarland. “We are devastated. I’m so sorry to share this.”
The Cessna C550 that crashed was registered to GB Aviation Leasing, a company owned by Biffle, according to Charlotte NBC affiliate WCNC.
The plane crashed at Statesville Regional Airport, about 40 miles north of Charlotte, just after 10:15 a.m., the airport said in a Facebook post. Videos from the scene showed a massive fire spewing smoke from the runway, while multiple emergency vehicles responded to the wreck.
The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office said everyone on board is believed to be dead. Officials have not publicly identified the victims, and it’s not clear who was piloting the aircraft.
The plane took off from Statesville Airport around 10:05 a.m. and was bound for Sarasota, but it quickly turned around and headed back, according to flight tracking data from FlightAware. A witness told local ABC affiliate WSOC the plane was flying “way too low” on its return, and nearby golfers said they ducked in fear.
Statesville Airport is frequently used for private jet travel, most often by corporate executives and NASCAR teams.
Biffle began his NASCAR career in 1995 and competed in the Sprint Cup Series from 2003 until 2016, winning 19 races. His best season-long championship finish was second place in 2005. He was named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023.
Many NASCAR drivers also have pilot licenses, and Biffle was among them. When Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina, Biffle used a private helicopter to aid the rescue efforts.
