7 Dead, Including Former NASCAR Star, After Plane Crashes And Bursts Into Fireball At Statesville Regional Airport In North Carolina

Statesville: A Cessna C550 business aircraft, which took off from Statesville Regional Airport on Thursday morning, crashed and turned into a fiery fireball on the runway minutes after lift‑off. According to FlightAware tracking data, a massive blaze gripped the plane after the crash, leading to a panic-like situation. On information, the rescue teams and the airport authorities rushed to the spot and initiated an operation to battle the blaze.

Following the incident, the law enforcement agencies have registered the matter and have begun an investigation into the region. Further details regarding the incident are awaited.

Amidst a light drizzle and low cloud, which covered the area at the time, the investigators stated that it was too early to confirm whether the weather played a role.

According to reports, all 7 people on the plane have been identified, which included the former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle (55), his wife Cristina Grossu Biffle, their son Ryder and Biffle’s daughter Emma. The other 3 victims were Craig Wadsworth, Dennis Dutton and Dutton’s son Jack, all well‑known and loved within the NASCAR community. In a joint statement, the families said each of them meant everything to them and that their loss left an immeasurable void.

As per reports, the jet was a Cessna C550 Citation, a twin‑engine mid‑size business aircraft that typically carries 6 to 8 passengers. Built in 1981, the plane was registered to a company linked to Biffle, depending on its interior fittings, according to aviation expert Jeff Guzzetti. It had been scheduled to fly to Sarasota in Florida, then on to Treasure Cay in the Bahamas, before returning to the United States.

Who Was Greg Biffle

Notably, Biffle had a glittering career, winning more than 50 races across NASCAR’s three national series, 19 of them in the Cup Series, and claiming championships in both the Truck and Xfinity divisions, the first driver to do so. He spent most of his racing life with Roush Fenway Racing, whose headquarters sit about 40 miles south of the crash site. In recent months, he had been praised for using his own aircraft and helicopter to deliver relief supplies after Hurricane Helene raged the parts of North Carolina.

The jet was a Cessna C550 Citation, a twin‑engine mid‑size business aircraft that typically carries 6 to 8 passengers. Built in 1981, the plane was registered to a company linked to Biffle and was valued at somewhere between £800,000 and £8 million, depending on its interior fittings, according to aviation expert Jeff Guzzetti. It had been scheduled to fly to Sarasota in Florida, then on to Treasure Cay in the Bahamas before returning to the United States 

Tributes Pour In For Greg Biffle

Meanwhile, friends and colleagues have poured tributes onto social media, remembering Biffle as a generous soul who helped those in need. Craig Wadsworth’s roommate, Benito Howell, recalled how Wadsworth had assisted Biffle with odd jobs, including delivering aid after the hurricane. 

Notably, Statesville Regional Airport is owned by the city of Statesville and serves as a hub for corporate aviation, hosting facilities used by Fortune 500 companies and several NASCAR teams. It sits just off the I‑77/I‑40 interchange, around 10 minutes drive from downtown Statesville.

A video of the plane crash has been circulating on social media, wherein the plane was captured turning into a fireball as the aircraft hit the ground. The local officials have confirmed the crash however, no official casualty figures have been released so far.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have been notified and are expected to take over the inquiry. 

Further details, including the number of victims and the cause of the accident, are awaited.