NASCAR champion Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, and their two children were among seven people killed in a plane crash at Statesville Regional Airport on Thursday, as Fox News reports.
This horrific event strikes at the heart of our community, especially the hardworking families and local taxpayers who rely on the safety and economic stability of our regional aviation infrastructure. The loss of these productive citizens presents a significant legal exposure for the county and airport authorities, as investigations into potential liability and safety protocols will surely follow this catastrophic failure.
The incident occurred Thursday around 10:20 a.m. ET, shortly after the twin-engine jet took off from the Statesville runway.
The aircraft was a Cessna C550 with tail number N257BW, officially registered to GB Aviation Leasing LLC, a company owned by Biffle.
The flight was initially traveling from North Carolina to the Bahamas via Sarasota, Florida, for a planned trip.
Witnesses reported the plane flying dangerously low before it went down, leaving debris as far as the ninth hole of the nearby Lakewood Golf Club.
“We were like, ‘Oh my gosh! That’s way too low,’... It was scary,” said witness Joshua Green, capturing the terror felt by those on the ground. When the experts say things were "scary," you can bet the bureaucratic safety standards we’re told to trust weren't worth the paper they were printed on that morning.
Video from the scene showed a massive fire and thick black smoke as first responders rushed to the wreckage scattered across the airport grounds.
The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office confirmed seven total fatalities, including the 55-year-old racing veteran and his immediate family members.
Victims identified in the crash were Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina Biffle, their daughter Emma, and their son Ryder.
Also among the deceased were Dennis Dutton, his son Jack Dutton, and Craig Wadsworth, leaving multiple families in mourning.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched an investigation, with the NTSB serving as the lead agency.
“NASCAR is devastated by the tragic loss of Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, son Ryder, Craig Wadsworth and Dennis and Jack Dutton in a fatal plane crash,” the racing organization stated. While the suits in the front office offer their typical polished grief, the real fans know we lost a man of true grit and traditional values.
Greg Biffle was an accomplished driver with 19 NASCAR Cup Series victories and championships in both the Xfinity and Truck Series.
Beyond the track, Biffle was known for his heroic humanitarian work, recently flying hundreds of rescue missions following Hurricane Helene.
He used his personal helicopter to deliver Starlink internet and food to stranded North Carolinians, showing the kind of self-reliance we should all admire.
“Each of them meant everything to us, and their absence leaves an immeasurable void in our lives,” the victims' families said in a joint statement. These families are now left to pick up the pieces while investigators take their sweet time poking through the charred remains of a private enterprise.
