Greg Biffle and family killed in North Carolina plane crash

Life & legacy of NASCAR driver Greg Biffle

Retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his wife, Cristina, their son Ryder, and Greg's daughter, Emma, were killed in a plane crash in North Carolina. LiveNOW's Mike Pache spoke about Biffle's career as a NASCAR driver and his legacy off the track with FOX Sports reporter Bob Pockrass.

STATESVILLE, N.C. - Retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his wife, Cristina, their son Ryder, and Greg's daughter, Emma from his first marriage, were killed when their Cessna C550 jet crashed Thursday around 10:20 a.m. while landing at the Statesville Regional Airport and erupted in a large fire. Others on the plane, Dennis Dutton and his son Jack, and Craig Wadsworth, were also killed.

The Biffle, Grossu, Dutton & Lunders Families released a joint statement Thursday afternoon.

We are devastated by the loss of our loved ones. This tragedy has left all of our families heartbroken beyond words.
Greg and Cristina were devoted parents and active philanthropists whose lives were centered around their young son Ryder and Greg’s daughter Emma (mother – Nicole Lunders).
Emma was a wonderful human being with a kind soul who was loved by many people. Ryder was an active, curious and infinitely joyful child.
Dennis Dutton and his son Jack were deeply loved as well, and their loss is felt by all who knew them.
Craig Wadsworth was beloved by many in the NASCAR community and will be missed by those who knew him.
Each of them meant everything to us, and their absence leaves an immeasurable void in our lives.

— Joint Statement from the Biffle, Grossu, Dutton & Lunders Families

Authorities say a business jet crashed while landing at a regional airport in Statesville, North Carolina, erupting in a large fire. (WBTV-TV via FOX)

NASCAR released the following statement:

"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.Greg was more than a champion driver, he was a beloved member of the NASCAR community, a fierce competitor, and a friend to so many. His passion for racing, his integrity, and his commitment to fans and fellow competitors alike made a lasting impact on the sport.On the track, Greg’s talent and tenacity earned him championships in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, as well as numerous wins and accolades in the NASCAR Cup Series. Beyond his racing career, he gave of himself for the betterment of our community. Most notably, Greg spent countless hours of his time helping the citizens of North Carolina during the disasters that followed Hurricane Helene. His tireless work saved lives.Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to Greg’s entire family, friends, and all who were touched by his life."

— NASCAR

NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace shared a photo of the family with a prayer emoji on social media.

What we know:

According to flight-tracking website FlightAware, the plane, identified as a Cessna C550 with the tail number N257BW, had taken off from Statesville just eight minutes before the crash and data suggests they were returning to the airport when the crash happened.

The plane had planned to fly later from Sarasota, Florida, to Treasure Cay International Airport in the Bahamas before returning to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and then to Statesville by evening, data showed.

File: Greg Biffle and his son Ryder Jack Biffle look on from the grid during practice for the Camping World Superstar Racing Experience event at South Boston Speedway on June 25, 2022 in South Boston, Virginia. (Photo by Jared Tilton/SRX/Getty Images

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The plane is owned by GB Aviation Leasing LLC, according to federal aviation records. The company is owned by Biffle.

AccuWeather says there was some drizzle and clouds at the time of the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA are investigating to determine what caused the crash.

Airport officials said the airport is closed, and it will take a while to get the debris off the runway.

The Statesville Regional Airport is about 45 miles north of Charlotte.

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Dig deeper:

The Statesville Regional Airport is a general aviation airport owned by the City of Statesville in Iredell County, which is about 45 miles north of Charlotte.

The airport says on its website that Statesville Regional Airport provides corporate aviation facilities for Fortune 500 companies and several NASCAR teams.

This is a developing story. Check back for more updates.

The Source: Information in this article was sourced from FOX News and The Associated Press. This story was reported from Orlando.

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