NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and his family have died in a fiery private jet crash crash, according to multiple sources.
Greg Biffle, his wife, Cristina Grossu, daughter Emma, and their son, Ryder, were on board the jet when the tragedy occurred.
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A small plane crashed while landing and exploded into a fireball at an airport Thursday morningCredit: X/nick_dudley
Greg Biffle, his wife, Cristina Grossu, daughter Emma, and their son, Ryder, were on board the jet when the tragedy occurredCredit: Instagram/cristinagbiffle
Public records show the plane is registered to NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, through GB Aviation Leasing at his address (stock)
Biffle’s friend confirmed that all four family members have been killed in the crashCredit: Getty Images for NASCAR
Greg Biffle and wife Cristina Grossu Biffle and son RyderCredit: Instagram/cristinagbiffle
All four have been ‘killed’ in the crash, according to Biffle’s family friend Cleetus McFarland.
“Unfortunately, I can confirm Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, and son Ryder were on that plane…because they were on their way to spend the afternoon with us. We are devastated. I’m so sorry to share this,” McFarland posted on Facebook.
The Cessna C550 was heading to Sarasota, Florida, when it took off from Statesville Regional Airport, about an hour outside of Charlotte, North Carolina, according to data from FlightAware.
Public records show the plane is registered to Biffle, through GB Aviation Leasing at his address.
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The fiery crash unfolded as the plane was attempting to landCredit: AP
A photo from the scene showed the wreckage completely engulfed in flames on the tarmac, with a massive cloud of black smoke rising from the airport grounds.
FAA records show the jet was built in 1981 – making it about 44 years old.
In an earlier statement, Statesville Regional Airport confirmed: “We can confirm there has been an aircraft incident at the Statesville Regional Airport. At approximately 10:15 a.m., an aircraft crashed while landing. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is en route and will investigate the incident.”
“This information is preliminary and subject to change. A Cessna C550 crashed while landing at Statesville Regional Airport around 10:20 a.m.local time on Thursday. The FAA & NTSB will investigate. The NTSB will lead the investigation,” the FAA also said in a statement.
Who was Greg Biffle
Greg Biffle was a former NASCAR star who won championships in two national series and later became a long-time Cup contender.
The Vancouver, Washington native first popped on the national radar during the 1995 NASCAR Winter Heat Series.
NASCAR Hall of Famer Benny Parsons urged team owner Jack Roush to sign him – a move that launched Biffle’s rise.
Known as “The Biff,” he was named Truck Series Rookie of the Year (1998) and won the Truck championship (2000).
He then repeated the climb in what’s now the Xfinity Series, taking Rookie of the Year (2001) and the series title (2002) – making him the first driver to win championships in both Trucks and Xfinity.
Biffle raced full-time in the Cup Series from 2002 to 2016, totaling 19 wins in 515 starts.
Who was Greg Biffle
- Former NASCAR driver who raced at the sport’s highest levels for more than a decade.
- Two-time national-series champion: Truck Series champ (2000) and Xfinity/Busch Series champ (2002).
- Rookie of the Year twice: Truck Series (1998) and Xfinity/Busch Series (2001).
- 19 wins in 515 starts, with a best points finish of second overall in 2005.
- Moved up through Trucks and Xfinity/Busch before becoming a long-time Cup regular.
- Named to NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers list in 2023.
He finished top 10 in the standings six times, including a runner-up points finish in 2005.
In 2023, NASCAR named him one of its 75 Greatest Drivers.
‘Air Biffle’
Biffle had a long history in aviation.
Biffle holds a private pilot license and flies both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.
According to the aviation industry report, Biffle’s “Air Biffle” fleet has included a Dassault Falcon 50, a Cessna 210, and a Bell 206 helicopter based at Statesville.
Biffle’s flying experience later shifted into disaster relief after Hurricane Helene, when Biffle joined helicopter runs delivering aid into hard-hit western North Carolina.
NASCAR.com reported his first missions came after a call for help from stranded people in Banner Elk, with rescue flights operating out of Statesville.
Biffle also posted videos showing the scale of the damage and the need for supplies, as relief efforts grew.
WRAL later reported he volunteered with Operation Helidrop, flying into remote areas and dropping necessities like insulin and EpiPens to people cut off by washed-out roads.
Flight-tracking data shows the Cessna took off from Statesville and was headed for Sarasota, FloridaCredit: FlightAware
The Cessna C550 was attempting to land when it crashed around 10:15 amCredit: FlightAware
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