Seven Dead as Small Jet Crashes at Statesville Airport, Including Former NASCAR Driver Greg Biffle

New York, Dec 2025 : Seven people, including former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his wife, and two children, were killed when a small jet crashed at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina, authorities confirmed.

The Cessna C550 jet went down on Thursday around 10:20 a.m. Eastern Time while attempting to land, triggering a large fire, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Flight tracking data from FlightAware indicated that the plane had taken off shortly after 10 a.m. but returned to the airport for an attempted landing.

The identification of all victims is pending confirmation by the medical examiner’s office.

Statesville City Manager Ron Smith described the incident as an ongoing and active situation. Speaking at a news briefing on Dec. 18, he noted that the crash involved a multi-agency response and said the investigation is still evolving. Video footage from the scene showed first responders rushing onto the runway as parts of the plane were engulfed in flames.

John Ferguson, manager of Statesville Regional Airport, said that the FAA had taken control of the crash site. He added that the airport would remain closed until further notice and that clearing debris from the runway and restoring safety would take time.

The FAA, along with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), has launched a formal investigation into the accident to determine its cause.

The tragic crash has shocked the local community and racing fans, highlighting the dangers of private aviation. Authorities continue to work at the scene and urged the public to avoid the area while emergency and investigative operations are underway.

The Statesville airport and federal agencies have pledged a thorough inquiry to ensure lessons are learned and future accidents are prevented.