A plane crash at Statesville Regional Airport killed multiple people Thursday morning, igniting a large fire on the runway and drawing an extensive emergency response across Iredell County.
Witnesses said the aircraft flew unusually low before slamming into the ground shortly after 10 a.m.
Officials confirmed the plane was a Cessna C550 owned by GB Aviation Leasing. FAA records list the company’s address at the Mooresville home of former NASCAR legend Greg Biffle.
We have now confirmed that Greg Biffle and his entire family — his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, and son Ryder — tragically lost their lives today.
Tracking data shows the jet lifted off from Statesville at 10:06 a.m., looped back toward the runway moments later, and then went down. The aircraft had been scheduled to fly from Sarasota to the Bahamas later in the day.
Golfers at Lakewood Golf Club, located next to the airport, told the Associated Press they saw the jet descending “way too low” before impact. Debris from the crash scattered across the club’s ninth hole.
The fire has since been contained, and the airport remains closed as the investigation continues.
