Tragic North Carolina Plane Crash Claims Life of Former NASCAR Driver and 6 Passengers

 Tragic North Carolina Plane Crash Claims Life of Former NASCAR Driver and 6 Passengers

STATESVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA —

Seven people were killed after a small private jet crashed shortly after takeoff in

 Statesville, North Carolina, according to the North Carolina State Highway patrol.

Among those who died were former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina

 Biffle, and their two children, Ryder and Emma, family members confirmed in a

 statement.

“This tragedy has left all of our families heartbroken beyond words,” the families said in

 a joint statement. “Each of them meant everything to us, and their absence leaves an

 immeasurable void in our lives.” The families also requested privacy during this difficult

 time.

In addition to former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and his family, three other

 passengers were on board the Cessna C550 private jet, authorities confirmed.

The additional victims were identified as Dennis Dutton and his son, Jack Dutton, along

 with longtime NASCAR community member Craig Wadsworth, according to a family statement.

The North Carolina plane crash occurred shortly after 10:15 a.m. in Iredell County,

 Chief Deputy Bill Hamby told CNN.

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein called the incident “heartbreaking” in a post on X,

 saying, “Greg Biffle lived a life of courage and compassion and stepped up for western

 North Carolina after Hurricane Helene. My heart goes out to all those who lost a loved one

 in this tragic crash.”

A Cessna C550 private jet crashed while landing at Statesville Regional Airport in

 North Carolina around 10:20 a.m. local time on Thursday, Dec. 18, according to the

  Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the

  North Carolina plane crash, with the NTSB leading the investigation and providing

 updates as they become available, the agency told CNN.

Digital creator and motorsports streamer Garrett Mitchell, widely known as “Cleetus

 McFarland,” said in a social media post that former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, along

 with his wife and two children, was traveling to visit him and his family when the fatal

 plane crash occurred.

Biffle and Mitchell, longtime friends within the NASCAR and motorsports community,

 previously worked together on rescue missions following Hurricane Helene in western

 North Carolina and frequently appeared in videos together.

The former NASCAR driver was also a licensed pilot, though authorities have not yet

 confirmed who was piloting the aircraft at the time of the crash.

Former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle is widely regarded as one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest

 Drivers, earning 19 career wins, according to an official news release from the racing

 series.

Biffle’s longtime racing team, RFK Racing, said they were “devastated” by the loss of a

  cherished member of our racing family, highlighting his lasting legacy within the

 organization.

NASCAR also expressed deep sorrow over Biffle’s death, calling the news heartbreaking

 for the entire motorsports world.

In an official statement, the racing series said Greg Biffle “was more than a champion

 NASCAR driver—he was a beloved member of the NASCAR community, a fierce

 competitor, and a friend to so many.” The statement added that his passion for

 racing, integrity, and dedication to fans and fellow competitors left a lasting impact

 on the sport.

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A witness at the airport told CNN she saw the plane engulfed in flames following the

 crash at a North Carolina airport.

“My desk faces where it happened. I was sitting here when I heard a loud boom, and our

 hangar shook,” said Victoria, who works for an aviation company at the airport and

 requested to be identified only by her first name due to privacy concerns. “When I

 looked up, I saw flames and fire everywhere.”

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is leading the investigation

 into the North Carolina plane crash, is expected to arrive later tonight and hold a

  media briefing tomorrow, according to a post on X.

During a brief news conference earlier today, local authorities provided limited details.

  Statesville airport manager John Ferguson said officials currently have “no

 information on the cause of the crash.”

Statesville Regional Airport, located about 45 miles north of Charlotte, North

 Carolina, is an uncontrolled airport with no control tower, where pilots are required

 to self-report their positions using a common radio frequency.

The airport remains closed following the North Carolina plane crash, according to the

 airport manager. Emergency crews were still on the runway near the crash site shortly

 after 1:30 p.m., a CNN crew observed.

According to preliminary flight tracking data, a Cessna Citation 550 departed

  Statesville Regional Airport around 10 a.m. from Runway 10, traveled approximately

  five miles, and then made a near-immediate left turn back toward the airport. The

 aircraft did not climb above 2,000 feet, according to FlightAware.

Weather data from an automated weather station at Statesville Regional Airport

reported low clouds, light rain, and visibility of less than three miles about 80

 minutes after the crash. Officials have not confirmed whether these weather conditions

 were present at the time of the accident.

The City of Statesville notes that Statesville Regional Airport supports corporate

 aviation for Fortune 500 companies and several NASCAR teams, underscoring the

 airport’s importance to the NASCAR and business aviation community.