\u201cUnfortunately, I can confirm Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, and son Ryder were on that plane\u2026because they were on their way to spend the afternoon with us. <\/p>\n
We are devastated. I\u2019m so sorry to share this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t FLIGHT OR FIGHT<\/p>\n Shocking video of Delta planes after airport collision left 1,000s stranded<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t<\/a> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t AIRPORT HORROR<\/p>\n At least 18 passengers injured as bus crashes into building at major airport<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n Multiple sources also told local radio station WAME that the family had died in the crash.<\/p>\n The Cessna C550 was heading to Sarasota, Florida<\/a>, when it took off from Statesville Regional Airport, about an hour outside of Charlotte, North Carolina<\/a>, according to data from FlightAware. <\/p>\n Public records show the plane is registered to Biffle, through GB Aviation Leasing at his address.<\/p>\n The fiery\u00a0crash\u00a0unfolded as the plane was attempting to landCredit: AP<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n FAA records show the jet was built in 1981 \u2013 making it about 44 years old.<\/p>\n In an earlier statement, Statesville Regional Airport confirmed: \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis 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,\u201d the FAA also said in a statement.<\/p>\n Who was Greg Biffle?<\/p>\n Greg Biffle was a former NASCAR star who won championships in two national series and later became a long-time Cup contender.<\/p>\n The Vancouver, Washington native first popped on the national radar during the 1995 NASCAR Winter Heat Series.<\/p>\n NASCAR Hall of Famer Benny Parsons urged team owner Jack Roush to sign him \u2013 a move that launched Biffle\u2019s rise.\u00a0<\/p>\n Known as \u201cThe Biff,\u201d he was named Truck Series Rookie of the Year (1998) and won the Truck championship (2000).\u00a0<\/p>\n He then repeated the climb in what\u2019s now the Xfinity Series, taking Rookie of the Year (2001) and the series title (2002) \u2013 making him the first driver to win championships in both Trucks and Xfinity.\u00a0<\/p>\n Biffle raced full-time in the Cup Series from 2002 to 2016, totaling 19 wins in 515 starts.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tWho was Greg Biffle\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n Former NASCAR driver who raced at the sport\u2019s highest levels for more than a decade. He finished top 10 in the standings six times, including a runner-up points finish in 2005.\u00a0<\/p>\n In 2023, NASCAR named him one of its 75 Greatest Drivers.<\/p>\n \u2018Air Biffle\u2019<\/p>\n Biffle had a long history in aviation.<\/p>\n Biffle holds a private pilot license and flies both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.<\/p>\n According to the aviation industry report, Biffle\u2019s \u201cAir Biffle\u201d fleet has included a Dassault Falcon 50, a Cessna 210, and a Bell 206 helicopter based at Statesville.<\/p>\n An AOPA<\/a> feature also highlighted his Cessna 210 and described how he caught the \u201chelicopter bug\u201d before earning his rotor-wing license.<\/p>\n Biffle\u2019s flying experience later shifted into disaster relief after Hurricane Helene, when Biffle joined helicopter runs delivering aid into hard-hit western North Carolina.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Biffle also posted videos showing the scale of the damage and the need for supplies, as relief efforts grew.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Flight-tracking data shows the Cessna took off from Statesville and was headed for Sarasota, FloridaCredit: FlightAware<\/p>\n The Cessna C550 was attempting to land when it crashed around 10:15 amCredit: FlightAware<\/p>\n More to follow\u2026 For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos.<\/p>\n Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS<\/a> and follow us on X at @TheUSSun<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/JL_DELTA-CRASH-COMP1.jpg\"\/)
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\nTwo-time national-series champion: Truck Series champ (2000) and Xfinity\/Busch Series champ (2002).
\nRookie of the Year twice: Truck Series (1998) and Xfinity\/Busch Series (2001).
\n19 wins in 515 starts, with a best points finish of second overall in 2005.
\nMoved up through Trucks and Xfinity\/Busch before becoming a long-time Cup regular.
\nNamed to NASCAR\u2019s 75 Greatest Drivers list in 2023.<\/p>\n