Retired NASCAR driver among seven killed in North Carolina plane crash

Greg Biffle’s level caught occurrence aft crash-landing astatine a determination airport, authorities authorities said. Other victims person not yet been identified.

A erstwhile NASCAR operator has been identified arsenic 1 of 7 radical who died successful a level clang successful the confederate United States.

Authorities said Greg Biffle and members of his household died erstwhile a backstage pitchy crashed connected Thursday portion trying to onshore astatine Statesville Regional Airport, northbound of Charlotte, North Carolina.

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Flight records showed the plane was registered to a institution tally by Biffle.

“Although the post-crash occurrence prevents america from releasing a definitive database of the occupants astatine this time, it is believed that Mr Gregory Biffle and members of his contiguous household were occupants of the airplane,” authorities constabulary said.

Further details astir the victims were not instantly available.

First responders thin to the country of a reported level clang astatine a determination airdrome successful Statesville, North Carolina [Matt Kelley/The Associated Press]

Throughout his 16-year career, Biffle won much than 50 races crossed the 3 racing-circuit types offered by NASCAR, a US-based relation for car races.

He placed archetypal successful 19 races astatine the Cup Series, considered NASCAR’s apical level. He besides won the Craftsman Truck Series title successful 2000 and the Xfinity Series rubric successful 2002.

Biffle’s level had taken disconnected from the airdrome soon aft 10am section clip connected Thursday (15:00 GMT), but it past returned to North Carolina and was attempting to onshore there, according to tracking information posted by FlightAware.com.

Video from WSOC-TV showed archetypal responders rushing onto the runway arsenic flames burned adjacent scattered wreckage from the plane.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) were investigating the crash.

All told, the NTSB has investigated 1,331 crashes successful the US successful 2025.