US Officials Confirm Former NASCAR Star Greg Biffle and Family Among Dead in Tragic Plane Crash
U.S. authorities have confirmed that multiple people, including former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and his family, perished after a Cessna C550 jet crashed at approximately 10:20 AM local time on December 18.
According to preliminary reports, there were a total of seven victims in the accident. On board the ill-fated flight were Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina Grossu, their 14-year-old daughter Emma, and 5-year-old son Ryder. Other passengers have been identified as Dennis Dutton and his son Jack, along with Craig Wadsworth, a longtime member of the NASCAR community. This information was detailed in a joint statement released by the victims’ families.
In the statement, the families expressed that they are “profoundly saddened by this immense loss” and requested privacy as they navigate this tragedy.
The Scene of the Catastrophe
The aircraft involved in the crash was owned by Greg Biffle. According to CNN, the plane departed from Statesville Regional Airport, located about 45 miles north of Charlotte, around 10:00 AM. Images from the scene showed flames engulfing the fuselage and thick black smoke billowing into the sky as emergency rescue operations were launched.
Statesville Regional Airport confirmed the incident in an official notice: “We can confirm that an aviation incident occurred at Statesville Regional Airport. At approximately 10:15 AM, an aircraft crashed during landing. The FAA is en route to the scene to conduct an investigation.”
Investigation Underway
A spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also told The Express that the Cessna C550 crashed while landing at Statesville Airport at approximately 10:20 AM local time on December 18. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will coordinate the investigation, with the NTSB taking the lead and providing updates as new information becomes available.
The cause of the catastrophic crash remains under urgent investigation by authorities.
