Seven people have been confirmed dead after NASCAR driver Greg Biffle’s plane crashed, killing Biffle, his wife Cristina, son Ryder and daughter Emma.
North Carolina State Highway Patrol announced the tragic news on Thursday, December 18, when they confirmed seven people had perished with a late afternoon press conference.
"It is believed, of those seven occupants, that Mr. Greg Biffle, 55 years old, and his immediate family, were on board the aircraft," First Sergeant Christopher Knox told reporters. "The reason we can't give you a definitive list of those seven occupants, is because of the post-crash fire."
Rep. Richard Hudson, North Carolina congressman and family friend, previously shared that Biffle and his family were four of the people killed in the crash, but the other three fatalities still remain unclear.
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“I am devastated by the loss of Greg, Cristina, and their children, and my heart is with all who loved them,” Hudson wrote on X on Thursday, Dec. 18. “They were friends who lived their lives focused on helping others.
"Greg was a great NASCAR champion who thrilled millions of fans. But he was an extraordinary person as well, and will be remembered for his service to others as much as for his fearlessness on the track."
Biffle's longtime friend Garrett Mitchell, better known as his alter ego Cleetus McFarland, also confirmed the news along with one heartbreaking detail.
Posting on Facebook, Mitchell wrote: "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."
So far, very little is known about the circumstances surrounding the crash, but initial reports of the crash confirmed that the plane was owned by Biffle.
One eyewitness at the scene near to Lakewood Golf Club told local news outlet WSOC, that the plane was flying "way too low" before the crash.
The news outlet itself also reported having to turn its news chopper around as visibility was so poor 'due to inclement weather conditions that limited visibility at the airport to about 5 miles'.
The Cessna C550 was flying to Sarasota, Florida, when it took off from Statesville Regional Airport, about an hour outside of Charlotte, North Carolina, according to data from FlightAware.
However, during the flight, the journey was averted, with the plane turning around and attempting to land.
It crashed at around 10:15am, and immediately burst into flames.
The Statesville Regional Airport confirmed the crash in a statement, saying: “We can confirm there has been an aircraft incident at the Statesville Regional Airport. At approximately 10:15 a.m., an aircraft crashed while landing. The Federal Aviation Administration is en route and will investigate the incident.”
An investigation by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) into the crash will now take place, with the NTSB leading the probe.
Biffle was a former NASCAR star who was named as one of the top 75 drivers in the sport’s history for his impressive track record on the track.
He won championships in two national series and later became a long-time Cup contender.
Biffle raced full-time in the Cup Series from 2002 to 2016, and racked up 19 wins in 515 starts. He finished top 10 in the standings six times, including a runner-up points finish in 2005.
In addition to his work as a driver, Biffle was also known for his big heart and previously worked as a humanitarian/rescue pilot, flying Hurricane Helene relief missions into western North Carolina.
Biffle married Cristina Grossu in 2022, and they shared their son Ryder. He shared daughter Emma with ex-wife Nicole Lunders.
Topics: North Carolina
Phoebe Tonks