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NASCAR great, his family and several others were killed in a fiery plane crash at a North Carolina airport in December.
Published Jan 07, 2026 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 3 minute read
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Greg Biffle holds his daughter, Emma, before a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2012. AP PhotoArticle content
Less than a month after a fiery plane crash took the lives of seven people, including retired NASCAR star Greg Biffle, several frantic 911 calls have been released.
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Among the calls, which were revealed by TMZ on Tuesday, one person at a nearby golf course said that they saw a “huge explosion” after watching the Cessna C550 plane carrying Biffle and his family crash into a tree line and onto the runway at the Statesville Regional Airport.
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The dispatcher told the caller not to risk exploring the scene and that help was on the way.
Another caller, who was at the North Carolina airport, detailed a “big fire” breaking out at the end of a runway.
They also tried to estimate how many people could have been onboard the tragic flight as the dispatcher gathered information.
A third caller, who was an apparent worker at the airport, said that the facility needed to be shut down immediately, while another said they were just 200 yards from the crash site when they made the call.
Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, their 14-year-old daughter Emma and 5-year-old son Ryder were killed in the crash. Craig Wadsworth, Dennis Dutton and Dutton’s son, Jack, also were identified as victims.
How the crash happened
The incident occurred on Dec. 18 just before 10:30 a.m. when the Cessna C500 crashed and burst into flames as it attempted to land.
According to virtual flight log data, the plane took off from Statesville airport and “immediately turned around and tried to land,” crashing on its attempt.
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According to reports, the plane was headed to Florida for a birthday trip, with Greg Biffle set to turn 56 on Dec. 23.
Garrett Mitchell, a family friend and an auto racing social media personality, first posted on Facebook that the Biffle family were on board the plane when it crashed.
“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,” Mitchell, who posts under the pseudonym Cleetus McFarland, posted on Facebook. “We are devastated. I’m so sorry to share this.”
Last message from the flight
Just moments before the fatal plane crash, Cristina Biffle sent a haunting text to her mother.
Speaking with People, Cristina’s mother, Cathy Grossu, shared that her daughter knew that something had gone wrong during the flight.
Grossu told the outlet that Cristina had texted her “We’re in trouble” while on the flight.
“She texted me from the plane and she said, ‘We’re in trouble.’ And that was it,” Grossu told the outlet. “So we’re devastated. We’re brokenhearted.”
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Biffle known as regional hero
Biffle was a registered pilot and used his helicopter to take supplies to Western North Carolina in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in 2024.
He also became known for philanthropy, which focused on animal welfare through his Greg Biffle Foundation.
Congressman Richard Hudson called the Biffles “friends who lived their lives focused on helping others.”
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Heartbreaking final text from Greg Biffle’s wife to her mom before plane crash revealed
“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,” Hudson posted on X.
“The Biffles flew hundreds of rescue missions in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene.”
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