BREAKING: Authorities Concern A number of Deaths After Jet Owned By Greg Biffle Goes Down Close to Runway
Multiple people were feared dead Thursday after a private jet owned by NASCAR driver Greg Biffle crashed while attempting to land at a North Carolina airport and exploded into flames, authorities said.
The Cessna Citation aircraft went down at Statesville Regional Airport around 10:15 a.m., erupting into a massive fire just off the right side of the runway as thick black smoke poured into the sky.
The plane is owned by GB Aviation Leasing LLC, which is linked to Biffle, a former NASCAR Cup Series driver, according to FAA records. It was not immediately clear whether Biffle was aboard the aircraft at the time of the crash.
It was not immediately clear how many people were aboard the jet at the time of the crash. The Cessna C550 typically carries eight to 10 passengers.
Photos from the scene showed the aircraft fully engulfed in fire. The jet model can cost up to $2.5 million.
A Cessna 550 Citation II, N257BW, has crashed while landing at Statesville Regional Airport, North Carolina.
There were six occupants onboard, local media reports that five fatalities have been confirmed so far.According to flight tracking data the aircraft made a return to the… pic.twitter.com/NKy8DnUtuF
— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) December 18, 2025
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation. The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office has been contacted for comment. As of Thursday morning, no deaths had been officially confirmed.
Witnesses at the nearby Lakewood Golf Club said the plane appeared to be flying “way too low” moments before impact.
Statesville Regional Airport, which is owned by the city, serves corporate aircraft, Fortune 500 companies and several NASCAR teams, according to its website. FAA records show 89 aircraft are based at the airport.
Airport officials confirmed the incident in a statement.
“We can confirm there has been an aircraft incident at the Statesville Regional Airport,” the statement said. “At approximately 10:15am, an aircraft crashed while landing. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is en route and will investigate the incident.”
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