Greg Biffle-owned business jet crashes in Statesville; Rep. Hudson says Biffle family killed

A corporate jet crashed while attempting to land at Statesville Regional Airport Thursday morning, leaving the small aircraft engulfed in flames and multiple people dead.

Flight records indicate the Cessna Citation business jet is registered to a company owned by retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle. Statesville authorities have not confirmed who was on board at the time of the crash. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the Iredell County Sheriff's Office and federal agencies all either referred questions to other agencies or said they didn't have further information on Thursday afternoon.

But U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, who represents the district and knows the Biffles, released a statement Thursday afternoon that said Biffle, his wife Cristina and his children were killed in the crash.

"I am devastated by the loss of Greg, Cristina, and their children, and my heart is with all who loved them," wrote Hudson. "Greg was a great NASCAR champion who thrilled millions of fans. But he was an extraordinary person as well, and will be remembered for his service to others as much as for his fearlessness on the track."

And online automotive racing content creator Garrett “Cleetus McFarland” Mitchell, a friend of Biffle, posted on Facebook that Biffle and his family were on board the plane, and that they were heading to visit Mitchell in Florida.

Asked about the crash at a Thursday press conference, Gov. Stein said it was "heartbreaking, just heartbreaking."

Statesville airport manager John Ferguson told reporters at a 12:30 p.m. press conference that the jet was fully ablaze when emergency crews arrived.

“We got a report of a corporate jet that crashed off the end of the runway on the east end. When I came out, it was already fully involved,” Ferguson said. He said that the FAA assumed control of the crash scene around noon and is leading the investigation. The airport remains closed until further notice while crews clear debris from the runway.

An FAA spokesperson told WFAE that there were six people aboard the plane, which crashed at about 10:20 a.m.

“We have no information on any cause. The airport now is closed until further notice. It will take some time to get the debris off the runway to get it safe again,” Ferguson said. Photos and videos from the scene show wreckage engulfed in flames beside the runway.

Statesville Regional Airport primarily handles general aviation, including private planes belonging to NASCAR teams. Biffle, ranked one of NASCAR's top-75 all-time drivers, is a pilot and spent weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina coordinating and conducting helicopter flights from Statesville's airport and his own lakeside house, ferrying supplies in and victims out of cut-off mountain towns.

In September, Biffle posted a one-hour documentary video detailing his experiences and sharing footage from the storm, marking Helene's anniversary.

On Thursday, the National Transportation Safety Board said it was dispatching a team that's expected to arrive Thursday evening, with a press conference sometime Friday.

Officials say they will provide updates as more information becomes available.