(Editor’s note: This story was updated to include the identities of the deceased and statements from the families and NASCAR.)
Former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and six others died in a plane crash around 10:15 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, at Statesville Regional Airport, the families confirmed in a joint statement.
Biffle’s wife, Cristina, was also killed in the crash, as was their son, Ryder, and Biffle’s daughter from his previous marriage, Emma, according to the release. Dennis Dutton and his son, Jack, and Chad Wadsworth also died in the crash, the statement said.
“We are devastated by the loss of our loved ones. This tragedy has left all of our families heartbroken beyond words,” the families stated.
The plane, listed in the FAA registry as a Cessna C550 business jet, is owned by Biffle-affiliated GB Aviation. According to the Flight Aware tracking, the plane tried returning to the Statesville airport just 26 minutes after takeoff.
The plane was scheduled to be at the Sarasota/Bradenton airport on Thursday afternoon, with stops scheduled in Treasure Cay and Fort Lauderdale before returning to Statesville, according to the flight tracking information.
“This is still an active event,” Statesville City Manager Ron Smith said during a brief news conference, calling the crash a multi-agency response and adding that the investigation is “evolving.”
The National Transportation Safety Board followed up with a social media post at 1:47 p.m., announcing the launch of a go team to investigate the fatal crash. It expects the team to arrive on scene tonight, the post said. NTSB will hold a media briefing on Dec. 19, with the time and location not yet finalized.
Before becoming a full-time Cup Series racer, Biffle won championships in NASCAR’s Truck Series (2000) and Busch Series (2002).
He raced full-time in the Cup Series from 2003-16 for team owner Jack Roush. He won 19 races and had six top-10 championship finishes, including a runner-up finish in 2005.
Biffle was also a licensed helicopter pilot, and in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene last year, he returned to the spotlight by using his helicopter to make numerous deliveries of supplies to those in need throughout the western Carolina region.
NASCAR also released a statement.
“NASCAR is devastated by the tragic loss of Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, son Ryder, Craig Wadsworth and Dennis and Jack Dutton in a fatal plane crash,” the organization said.
“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. His passion for racing, his integrity, and his commitment to fans and fellow competitors alike made a lasting impact on the sport. On the track, Greg’s talent and tenacity earned him championships in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, as well as numerous wins and accolades in the NASCAR Cup Series. Beyond his racing career, he gave of himself for the betterment of our community.”
USA TODAY contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, family members die in plane crash in N.C.
