Ex-Nascar driver and family among seven killed in plane crash

A former Nascar driver and his family were among seven people killed in a plane crash at North Carolina Regional Airport, the auto racing organization said.

A Highway Patrol spokesman said people on the ground confirmed Greg Biffle was among those who boarded the plane.

The Cessna C550 crashed while landing at Statesville Regional Airport around 10:20 a.m. local time (1520 GMT), officials investigating the incident told reporters.

“Greg was more than just a champion driver, he was a beloved member of the NASCAR community, a fierce competitor and a friend to many,” Nascar said in a statement, confirming that Biffle died along with his wife, daughter, son and three others.

“His passion for racing, his integrity and his dedication to his fans and fellow competitors have had a lasting impact on the sport,” the company added.

Outside the racetrack, Biffle is remembered for his help in North Carolina after Hurricane Helen last year, when he used his personal helicopter to rescue stranded residents and deliver supplies.

Tributes to the former racer came Thursday.

“Heartbreaking news from Statesville,” North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein wrote on X. “In addition to his success as a NASCAR driver, Greg Biffle lived a life of courage and compassion and competed in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helen.”

Motorsports YouTuber Garrett Mitchell wrote on Facebook that Biffle and his family were planning to spend the day with him.

“Unfortunately, I can confirm that Greg Biffle, his wife Christina, daughter Emma and son Ryder were on this plane… because they were planning to spend the day with us,” he wrote on Facebook. “We are devastated. I'm really sorry to share this.”

Statesville Airport Director John Ferguson described the plane as a corporate jet and said it was already engulfed in flames when it arrived on scene.

The Cessna C550 plane is owned by a private company linked to Biffle, said CBS, the BBC's US partner.

The plane took off at about 10:06 local time and remained in the air for some time before crashing at the eastern end of the runway.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.

The Statesville airport will be closed until further notice as crews clear debris from the runway, Mr. Ferguson told reporters.

Officials did not provide any information about the deaths or people on board the plane during their first news conference.

The National Transportation Safety Board, which is leading the investigation. sent team to investigate the fatal crash.

Statesville Regional Airport (KSVH) is owned by the city of Statesville, which is approximately 45 minutes north of Charlotte.

It also provides aviation equipment to Fortune 500 companies and several Nascar racing teams.

Biffle, whose racing career spanned two decades, was named one of Nascar's 75 Greatest Drivers of 2023. The 55-year-old driver has won 19 Cup Series races in the Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series.

The Vancouver, Washington native known as Biff gained national recognition in 1995 during the Nascar Winter Heat Series, according to his Nascar profile.

He made a name for himself in the Craftsman Truck Series, winning the 1998 Rookie of the Year award and the 2000 series championship.

He went on to be named the 2001 Xfinity Series Rookie of the Year and won the 2002 championship, becoming the first driver to win championships in both the Xfinity Series and the Truck Series.

He also co-founded the Sand Outlaws Series. Although he retired from racing after 2016, he appears to have come out of retirement in 2019 for a one-off race at Texas Motor Speedway, which he won.

“Racing is racing,” he said. Nascar.com in 2021. “It’s adrenaline: you want to be better than the competition, you want to build a better part and have a faster car. I just enjoy the competition.”