Former NASCAR star Greg Biffle is said to have been among the seven people killed in a plane crash near a regional airport in North Carolina on Thursday (US time). Everyone on the plane – registered in the name of the retired driving star’s company – is said to have perished in the tragedy, as per authorities cited by US reports.

The Cessna C50, a business jet, erupted into a “fireball,” as some eye witnesses have been describing the development in local US report, as it hit the ground during a landing attempt. North Carolina highway patrol said that the aircraft crashed as it was turned back around after initially taking off from Statesville Regional Airport, which is about 45 miles north of Charlotte.

The Associated Press has since reported that the jet crash may be attributed to landing in foggy weather at around 10:15 am local time. It has yet to be revealed who was flying the plane.

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State police has so far steered clear from releasing the definitive list of victims, but they believe Gregory Biffle and members of his immediate family accounted for all the passengers on the plane. The Guardian reported that Biffle was onboard the plane with his wife, Cristina Grossu Biffle, and children Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14. Three other victims identified in the process were Dennis Button, his son Jack, and Craig Wadsworth.

Greg Biffle’s family breaks silence

In a joint statement released online, the Biffle, Grossu, Dutton, and Lunders families have responded to the life-shattering tragedy.

“We are devastated by the loss of our loved ones. This tragedy has left all of our families heartbroken beyond words,” the statement reads. It then goes on to describe the members of the family impacted by the crash.

“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.”

Shedding light on the other victims as well, the statement noted, “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. At this moment, our focus is on honouring their lives and supporting one another.”

Terrifying North Carolina plane crash video emerges

With reports of plane crashing at Statesville Regional Airport on December 18 emerging on local US outlets, the identities of the passengers weren’t immediately clarified. Pictures and a video capturing the heart-rending visuals of the jet accident started being circulated online, as local outlets shared eye witness accounts.

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It was also not known at the time whether Biffle himself was on the plane.

Videos emerging online ever since showed dark smoke clouds rising up from the scene of the tragedy. An initial look also captured the plane on fire as it continued dragging on at the airport.

An eyewitness told WCNC that he even saw the plane hit several trees before going down. “…a flame coming from the plane, and I thought it was a house,” a man in the area shared with the outlet. He then saw emergency vehicles rushing to the airport.

Another man who saw the plane coming down said, “I didn’t seem normal and it hit the tree line over there and just scraped all the way across and then it just fireballed itself.”

Biffle shot to fame in the NASCAR circuit in the 2000s. “Beyond his success as a NASCAR driver, Greg Biffle lived a life of courage and compassion and stepped up for western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene,” North Carolina Governor Josh Stein posted on X.

The motorsport star’s career spanned two decades and he was named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023. Known as ‘The Biff,’ he won the 19 Cup Series races in the Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series, and was named the Rookie of the Year 2001 in the Xfinity Series.

Other than that, he was also known for his association with the Greg Biffle Foundation, which supports animal welfare efforts. The Biff had been a licensed pilot for years and often expressed his love of flying.

Officials have since confirmed that the jet that came down on December 18 was registered to GB Aviation Leasing LLC, a company tied to Biffle.