NASCAR racing legend Greg Biffle, his wife, two children and two plane crew members died after a private jet crashed at Statesville Regional Airport.
A plane carrying six people went up in a fireball at the North Carolina airport in the US today at around 10.15 local time (3.15pm GMT).
The victims have been named as Biffle, his wife Christina Grossu, their son Ryder, 5, and Biffle’s daughter, Emma, 14, from his first marriage, according to country officials and family friends.
Two crew members were also killed in the accident.
Footage shows thick black smoke billowing into the air, visible for miles, after the aircraft exploded on the tarmac.
It was reportedly a Cessna C550 plane often used as a private and corporate jet, capable of carrying up to eight passengers.
‘I can confirm there were fatalities,’ Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell said.
Biffle’s friend, YouTuber Garrett Mitchell, wrote on social media: ‘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.’
Tributes have poured in across the racing community and the state. The North Carolina Representative Richard Hudson said: ‘I am devastated by the loss of Greg, Cristina, and their children, and my heart is with all who loved them.
‘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. The Biffles flew hundreds of rescue missions in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene.’
Who is Greg Biffle?
Biffle, 55, has more than 500 NASCAR cup starts and 19 wins under his belt.
He won across the sport’s three series – Truck, Xfinity and Cup.
Biffle, a dad-of-two, is also a registered pilot, and he was praised for his efforts to help the victims of Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica by coordinating and assisting with aid.
He said when the natural disaster hit the Caribbean in October: ‘As Hurricane Melissa makes landfall, hoping that as many people were able to head to higher ground as possible!
‘We are trying to coordinate and explore all opportunities via by sea and air for relief efforts as quickly as we can to the Caribbean. We have the large boat and landing craft on standby for deployment to possibly take supplies once we can get an update and monitoring the situation like everyone and praying for all who are affected.’
During Hurricane Helena last year, Biffle delivered support for stranded people in North Carolina and Tennessee with a helicopter.
Biffle is married to Christina Grossu, and they share a son, Ryder Jack. He has a daughter, Emma, from his previous marriage.
The aircraft was first linked to Biffle with its tail number N257BW, showing it was owned by his company.
An eyewitness at a nearby golf club said the plane was flying ‘way too low’ before the crash.
The US aviation watchdog, the Federal Aviation Authority, told the Daily Mail that Cessna plane crashed while attempting to land.
Statesville Regional Airport said: ‘We can confirm there has been an aircraft incident at the Statesville Regional Airport.
‘At approximately 10:15am, an aircraft crashed while landing. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is en route and will investigate the incident.’
Statesville Airport is located around 40 miles north of the state capital, Charlotte, and near Interstate 40 motorway. The area is also home to several NASCAR tracks and racing teams.
The weather in the Statesville area at the time of the crash was rainy with low visibility, but it is not known if the weather conditions played a role in the accident.
The aviation industry has been rocked by several fatal incidents this year involving both light aircraft and large commercial planes.
On Monday, ten people were killed after a private jet crashed while trying to make an emergency landing in San Mateo Atenco outside Mexico City in central Mexico.
Two people on board a small plane died when the aircraft collided near a suburban airport in Denver in September.
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