A tragic incident unfolded in North Carolina as a private jet, reportedly linked to NASCAR icon Greg Biffle, crash-landed near a runway, resulting in multiple fatalities.
The Cessna Citation, a sleek business jet, was engulfed in flames beside the runway at Statesville Regional Airport, with the crash occurring around 10:15 a.m. on Thursday.
While the exact number of individuals on board remains unknown, the aircraft is designed to accommodate between eight and ten passengers.
Authorities from the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the presence of multiple casualties but refrained from providing a specific count of those who perished in the accident.
Further details on the fatalities are expected to be released by the North Carolina Highway Patrol as the investigation continues.
The aircraft is owned by GB Aviation Leasing LLC, a company associated with the 55-year-old Biffle. It remains unclear whether Biffle himself was among those on the ill-fated flight.
Images showed the inferno ripping through the jet – which can cost as much as $2.5 million – as thick black smoke was seen blanketing the air.
The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) told the Daily Mail that the Cessna C550 crashed while attempting to land.
The plane crashed at Statesville Regional Airport on Thursday morning
First responders rushed to the scene in North Carolina
Preliminary flight tracking shows that the aircraft left Statesville Regional Airport, which is about 45 miles north of Charlotte, at around 10 am, CNN reported.
It traveled about five miles before turning back toward the airport, although it is unclear why.
Low clouds and visibility of less than three miles were reported in the area of the crash around the time it happened.
There was also light drizzling that abruptly turned into heavy rainfall in the area, according to Fox Weather.
Investigators have not yet said whether these conditions contributed to the accident.
The plane never flew higher than 2,000 feet above the ground, according to FlightAware data.
The FAA, National Transportation Safety Board and the North Carolina Highway Patrol are investigating the harrowing incident.
A representative for the Iredell County Sheriff told the Daily Mail that units from multiple agencies are on the scene.
Witnesses who were at nearby Lakewood Golf Club said the plane was flying ‘way to low’ before it came down.
The Statesville Regional Airport is owned by the city, and according to its website, it provides facilities for Fortune 500 companies and several NASCAR teams.
This airport has no control tower, meaning pilots must self-report their position using a common radio frequency.
Firefighting crews are seen responding to the plane crash
NASCAR driver Greg Biffle reportedly owns the jet that crashed. It is not known if he was on board (pictured: Biffle in March 2003)
There are 89 aircraft based there, FAA records showed.
Statesville Regional Airport said in a statement: ‘We can confirm there has been an aircraft incident at the Statesville Regional Airport.
‘At approximately 10:15 am, an aircraft crashed while landing. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is en route and will investigate the incident.’
During a brief press conference at 12:30 pm, officials said that the airport is closed and the investigation is active.
While it is unknown if Biffle was in the Cessna Citation that crashed on Thursday, the renowned retired NASCAR driver had a plane scare in March 2011 while landing at a Kentucky airport.
As reported by The Albany Herald at the time, the plane’s right main landing gear failed, and its wing slammed into the runway as Biffle’s pilots attempted to land at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington.
Fortunately, no one was harmed and Biffle characterized it as a ‘small plane incident.’
‘My pilots are purely heroes for maintaining control of the aircraft (and) keeping (it) on the runway,’ Biffle shared on X, then Twitter, at the time.
‘If not it wouldn’t have been the same outcome.’
Biffle, who began his successful NASCAR career in 1995, is now semi-retired but still occasionally races.
This is a breaking news story.
