Former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, along with his wife Cristina Biffle and their two children, 14-year-old daughter Emma and 5-year-old son Ryder, were killed Thursday in a plane crash at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina, according to a statement posted on social media by U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.).

The family was traveling aboard a Cessna C550 business jet, tail number N257BW, which crashed shortly after takeoff while en route to the Bahamas via Sarasota, Florida. Federal aviation records show the aircraft is owned by GB Aviation Leasing LLC, a company owned by Biffle.

“I am devastated by the loss of Greg, Cristina, and their children, and my heart is with all who loved them,” Hudson wrote. “They were friends who lived their lives focused on helping others. Greg was a great NASCAR champion who thrilled millions of fans, but he was also an extraordinary person who will be remembered for his service to others as much as for his fearlessness on the track.”

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the Cessna C550 crashed at approximately 10:20 a.m. Eastern Time.

An official with the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office said the aircraft went down shortly after departing the airport around 10 a.m.

Sheriff Grant Campbell confirmed earlier in the day that the crash resulted in fatalities but initially did not release the identities of those on board or the number of occupants.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, with assistance from the FAA. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined.

Video from the scene showed first responders rushing onto the runway, where flames were visible near scattered aircraft debris.

Witnesses at the nearby Lakewood Golf Club said the aircraft was flying unusually low moments before the crash. Several golfers reported dropping to the ground as the jet passed overhead, with debris later found near the ninth hole.

“We were like, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s way too low,’” Joshua Green of Mooresville told The Associated Press. “It was scary.”

Biffle, 55, was widely respected not only for his racing achievements but also for his humanitarian efforts. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene last year, he used his personal helicopter to fly hundreds of rescue and supply missions across western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, delivering food, fuel, medical supplies, and communications equipment to isolated communities.

Biffle publicly recounted one rescue mission in which he located a stranded family after they reflected sunlight with a mirror from the bottom of a steep canyon. He described making multiple difficult landing attempts to deliver essential supplies, including insulin, EpiPens, fuel, and food.

“The last time I spoke with Cristina, just a couple of weeks ago, she reached out to ask how she could help with relief efforts in Jamaica,” Hudson wrote. “That’s who the Biffles were.”

Greg Biffle enjoyed a distinguished NASCAR career, earning:

• 19 NASCAR Cup Series victories, including six wins in 2005, when he finished second in the championship standings
• 20 Xfinity Series wins, along with the 2002 series championship
• 17 Craftsman Truck Series victories, capturing the 2000 championship

He also won the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway three consecutive times from 2004 to 2006. Biffle stepped away from full-time competition in 2016 before returning to racing six years later.

Statesville Regional Airport, where the crash occurred, serves corporate aviation operations and is frequently used by Fortune 500 companies and several NASCAR teams, according to airport officials.

“Our prayers are with their family, friends, and everyone grieving this unimaginable loss,” Hudson said.

The investigation into the crash remains ongoing, and authorities are expected to release additional information as it becomes available.