Former racing driver Greg Biffle and members of his family were among seven people who died in a plane crash Friday morning in North Carolina, state police said.
The business jet erupted when it hit the ground while trying to land at Statesville Regional Airport, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of Charlotte.
Flight records show the plane was registered to a company run by Biffle.
“Although the post-crash fire prevents us from releasing a definitive list of occupants at this time, it appears that Mr. Gregory Biffle and members of his immediate family were the occupants of the aircraft,” state police said.
A screenshot from a video provided by WSOC shows fire crews responding to the plane crash. (Provided: WSOC)
Biffle, 55, has won more than 50 races on NASCAR’s three circuits, including 19 at the Cup Series level. He also won the Trucks Series championship in 2000 and the Xfinity Series title in 2002.
Golfers playing near the airport were shocked when they witnessed the disaster, even falling to the ground at Lakewood Golf Club as the plane was overhead. The ninth hole was covered in debris.
“We were like, ‘Oh my God! This is way too low,'” said Joshua Green of Mooresville. “It was scary.”
The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA were investigating.
Greg Biffle (right) takes a selfie with U.S. President Donald Trump during the Daytona 500 in February 2025. (Getty Images: Chris Graythen)
The plane took off from the airport shortly after 10 a.m. local time, but then returned and attempted to land there, according to tracking data published by FlightAware.com.
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 Statesville in the evening, according to the data.
With 2025 almost over, the NTSB has investigated 1,331 accidents in the United States this year, from two-seat planes to commercial planes, compared to a total of 1,482 in 2024.
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