Former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle died in a plane crash in North Carolina on Thursday. His wife and both of his children were also killed. The information was confirmed by Congressman Richard Hudson.
The crash happened at Statesville Regional Airport. The plane was a small business jet owned by Biffle. There were 6 people on board. None survived.
Local news first reported the crash on Thursday morning. The plane went down at the end of the runway. It happened shortly after 10:15 a.m. ET.
A witness at the airport said the jet was flying very low. Moments later, there was a huge explosion. Emergency crews rushed to the scene, but there was nothing they could do.
The aircraft had taken off from the same airport earlier that morning. It then came back and tried to land again. That is when the crash occurred.
The plane was registered under GB Aviation Leasing, a company linked to Biffle. It was supposed to fly from Florida to the Bahamas. After that, it was scheduled to return to Florida and then land back in North Carolina by evening.
Authorities are still investigating what went wrong. They have not shared the exact cause of the crash yet. The names of the victims were also not officially released at first.
Later in the day, Congressman Hudson confirmed that Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, and their two children were among those killed. He said the loss was heartbreaking. He described the family as kind people who cared deeply about helping others.
Greg Biffle was a well known name in NASCAR. He was nominated for the NASCAR Hall of Fame. He was also named one of the sport’s 75 greatest drivers.
He won Rookie of the Year awards in multiple series. He also won championships in both the Truck Series and the Xfinity Series. He was the first driver to do that. In the Cup Series, he raced for many years and earned 19 wins.
Biffle retired from full time racing in 2016. He still appeared in select races afterward. In 2022, he returned briefly to race in the Daytona 500.
How old was Greg Biffle and his children?
Greg Biffle was 55 years old.
He had a daughter named Emma from his first marriage. She was born in 2011. He later had a son named Ryder with his wife Cristina. Ryder was born in 2020.
Emma was 14 years old. Ryder was 5 years old. Both children were killed in the crash along with their parents.
Greg Biffle and Cristina Grossu were married in January 2023.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the racing world. Fans, friends, and fellow drivers continue to mourn the loss of a champion and his family.
