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NASCAR Driver Greg Biffle, His Wife and Children Reportedly Killed in Plane Crash at Statesville Regional Airport
UPDATE: Garrett Mitchell confirmed to Channel2 NOW that Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma and their son Ryder were aboard the aircraft, as they were traveling to spend the afternoon with him. He expressed deep devastation over the incident.
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.
โI am devastated by the loss of Greg, Cristina, and their children, and my heart is with all who loved them,โ Hudson wrote. โThey 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.โ
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the Cessna C550 crashed at approximately 10:20 a.m. Eastern Time.
An official with the Iredell County Sheriffโs 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.
โWe were like, โOh my gosh, thatโs way too low,โโ Joshua Green of Mooresville told The Associated Press. โIt was scary.โ
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.
โThe 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,โ Hudson wrote. โThatโs who the Biffles were.โ
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.
โOur prayers are with their family, friends, and everyone grieving this unimaginable loss,โ Hudson said.
The investigation into the crash remains ongoing, and authorities are expected to release additional information as it becomes available.
UPDATE: Search efforts have been suspended following the sinking of the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts, marking another tragic loss for the cityโs historic fishing community.
The U.S. Coast Guard was alerted early Friday morning by the vesselโs emergency beacon after it activated in the water; no mayday call was received.
Responders located a debris field, an unoccupied life raft, and one deceased individual in the water.
Six other crew members remain missing and are presumed lost after an extensive air and sea search yielded no additional results.
The Coast Guard cited frigid water temperatures, challenging weather conditions, and the vast search area in its decision to suspend operations.
GLOUCESTER, Mass. โ Authorities have identified all seven individuals who lost their lives after the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean sank approximately 25 miles off Cape Ann, Massachusetts, early Friday morning, marking a devastating loss for Gloucesterโs historic fishing community.
The Lily Jean, a commercial fishing vessel measuring between 72 and 80 feet in length and homeported in Gloucesterโthe nationโs oldest working fishing portโactivated its emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) at approximately 6:50 a.m. Friday while returning to port.
No mayday call was received, and subsequent attempts to contact the vessel were unsuccessful.
The U.S. Coast Guard immediately launched a large-scale search and rescue operation, deploying an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and multiple surface assets to the area of the distress signal.
Crews located a debris field and an unoccupied life raft roughly 25 miles offshore near the EPIRB activation site, confirming the vessel had sunk to the ocean floor. One deceased individual was recovered from the water.
The remaining six crew members were later presumed lost after extensive search efforts yielded no additional results.
Officials confirmed that seven people were aboard the vessel at the time of the incident, revising earlier reports that indicated six.
The seven individuals who perished aboard the Lily Jean are:
- John Paul Rousanidis, 33, of Salem/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Sean Therrien, 44, of Lynn/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Freeman Short, of the Marshfield/Scituate area
- Captain Gus Sanfilippo, a well-known and respected Gloucester fisherman
- Paul Beal Sr., deckhand
- Paul Beal Jr., deckhand and son of Paul Beal Sr.
- Jada Samitt, 22, of Virginia
Jada Samitt, the seventh crew member identified, was serving aboard the vessel in the role of a federal fisheries observer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She had recently relocated to Massachusetts to pursue her passion for environmental biology, graduating last year. Family members said joining the Lily Jean crew was her first major professional role at sea and a lifelong dream.
Her aunt, Heather Michaels, described Samitt as a compassionate and driven young woman who deeply respected her captain and dedicated herself fully to her work. โShe put her heart and soul into this opportunity,โ family members said, noting her commitment to marine conservation and the fishing community.
Officials said the Lily Jean had reported taking on water shortly before contact was lost.
The vessel is now presumed fully submerged.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Gloucesterโs close-knit maritime community.
Ashley Sullivan, a local business owner who knew the vesselโs owner, emphasized the daily risks faced by commercial fishermen. โI hope people really take a moment to understand the sacrifices these men and women make to put food on our tables,โ she said. โThis is heartbreaking.โ
Massachusetts State Senator Bruce Tarr also expressed condolences, highlighting Gloucesterโs deep fishing heritage. โGloucester has a long fishing history, and that history includes tragic loss,โ Tarr said. โIt appears we are experiencing another of those painful chapters.โ
Governor Maura Healey released a statement saying she was โheartbroken over the devastating news out of Gloucester,โ adding that her administration has offered full assistance to local officials and the Coast Guard. She extended prayers to the victimsโ families and the broader fishing community across Cape Ann and the Commonwealth.
Community members and local businesses have continued to share messages of remembrance and solidarity. Taylor Hunt, a relative of Freeman Short, posted a tribute honoring the crew, writing in part: โThe salt has been in our blood for generationsโฆ A man is not lost while the sea remembers his name. Fair winds and following seas.โ
The Lily Jean had previously been featured on the History Channel series NorโEaster Men, which documented the dangers and demands of New Englandโs commercial fishing industry.
While search operations have concluded, the Coast Guard and relevant agencies continue to review the circumstances surrounding the sinking. Officials have stated that further updates will be released as additional information becomes available.
Authorities have urged the public to keep the victimsโ families and Gloucesterโs fishing community in their thoughts and prayers during this period of profound loss.