A former NASCAR champion, his wife and two children were among seven people killed when a business jet went down and burst into flames near a regional airport in North Carolina on Thursday, authorities said.

The aircraft, identified as a Cessna C550, crashed shortly after take-off from Statesville Regional Airport, north of Charlotte. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol said the jet attempted to return and land before hitting the ground and erupting into a large fire.

Veteran racer Greg Biffle, 55, was travelling with his wife, Cristina, and their children – five-year-old Ryder and 14-year-old Emma – when the plane went down. A joint family statement described the four victims by saying, “Each of them meant everything to us, and their absence leaves an immeasurable void in our lives.”

Federal investigators have not yet confirmed why the crew attempted to turn back in cloudy, drizzling weather. The US National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration have taken over the inquiry.

Terrifying crash witnessed near runway

The twin-engine jet, bound for Florida, departed Statesville just after 10 am local time and crashed minutes later, according to flight-tracking data. Golfers at Lakewood Golf Club, which borders the airport, said they dropped to the ground as the plane passed alarmingly low overhead.

Two other passengers – Dennis Dutton, his son Jack, and Craig Wadsworth – also died. Wadsworth, a former NASCAR team worker, was remembered by roommate Benito Howell as someone who “always tried to help everybody.”

A sudden end to a decorated racing career

Biffle, who retired from full-time competition several years ago, built one of NASCAR’s most versatile portfolios. He earned more than 50 victories across the sport’s three national series, including 19 in the Cup Series. He won the Truck Series title in 2000 and added the Xfinity (then Busch) Series championship in 2002. NASCAR said it was shattered by the deaths, adding, “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.”

He last appeared in the Cup Series in 2022 and, in 2023, was included among NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers.

Aviation business and relief work

Flight records show the aircraft was registered to GB Aviation Leasing, a company linked to Biffle. He was an experienced pilot who frequently used his aircraft for disaster aid. In 2024, he flew supplies to remote parts of western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene and was recognised for his humanitarian work.

The US Rep. Richard Hudson recalled his conversations with Cristina, saying, “That’s who the Biffles were.”

Wadsworth, a close friend who often assisted Biffle with relief efforts, was also on board.

Political identity and confirmation of deaths

A family friend, Garrett Mitchell – known online as Cleetus McFarland – said the group had been travelling to meet him in Florida. He confirmed the deaths publicly, writing on Facebook that the planned gathering never happened.

Authorities initially withheld victims’ names, but the incident quickly became a national flashpoint as social media posts noted Biffle’s support for Donald Trump.

Cristina’s distress call moments before the crash

As families began to absorb the news, PEOPLE magazine reported that Cristina sent a final text to her mother, Cathy Grossu. “We are in trouble,” she wrote.

Cathy told the publication she believes the family was travelling for a birthday celebration. "So we're devastated. We're brokenhearted." She said she cannot believe their trip ended in what she called a “horrific” accident.

Who was Cristina Grossu Biffle?

Cristina, whom Biffle married on December 31, 2022, was a real-estate entrepreneur and luxury travel agent. According to her online biography, she served as chief executive of a ring-replica firm, held a sociology degree from USC and an MBA from Purdue University, and frequently posted about the long evenings and determination that led to her qualifications.

She was described as ambitious and private, yet devoted to Biffle’s children.

Biffle’s family life

The couple welcomed their son, Ryder, together in September 2020. The family statement described him as energetic, curious and joyful. Emma, from Biffle’s previous marriage, lived with the couple and was often seen with her father at racing venues. She was remembered as “a wonderful human being with a kind soul.”

Biffle’s earlier marriage to Nicole Lunders ended after a headline-grabbing privacy lawsuit, in which a jury ruled he had secretly recorded Lunders and her mother. Damages of USD 250,001 were awarded. Despite the court battle, Biffle continued to co-parent Emma, and the blended family settled into a routine in recent years.

Friends, wealth and public profile

Biffle cultivated a reputation as a personable racer with significant off-track income. His estimated net worth in 2025 was around USD 30 million, with earnings drawn from race purses, endorsements, appearances and investment ventures.

Mitchell said the family were en route to spend the afternoon with him before disaster struck.

A mounting year of aviation tragedy

The crash adds to a surge in US aviation incidents this year. The NTSB has investigated 1,331 domestic aircraft crashes of varying scale in 2025, compared with 1,482 in the previous year.

Internationally, 2025 has seen several mass-casualty air disasters, including a plane-helicopter collision that killed 67 in Washington state, an Air India crash that claimed 260 lives, and a Russian Far East disaster that killed 48. In Kentucky, 14 people – 11 on the ground – died when a UPS cargo plane crashed.

The Cessna model involved – a mid-sized business jet seating six to eight passengers – first rolled out in 1981 and is widely regarded as reliable. Aviation analyst Jeff Guzzetti said its track record is strong, though investigators will scrutinise engine performance, flight controls and weather.

State and federal investigators are examining why the pilot abandoned the south-bound flight for Sarasota, Florida, and attempted to turn back in low-visibility conditions.

(With inputs from agencies)