NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and family killed in plane crash

Former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and his family have been killed in a plane crash in the United States. 

A Cessna Citation II twin-jet aircraft took off from Statesville in North Carolina shortly after 10:00am local time bound for Sarasota in Florida, but immediately turned back upon departure for a return to the airport. 

Footage circulating on social media showed the burning wreckage of the aircraft, N257BW, engulfed in flames on the runway with six people believed to be aboard.

The aircraft was owned by Biffle's GB Aviation Leasing LLC, although it was not immediately clear that he was on-board.

However, Garrett Mitchell, also known as YouTuber Cleetus McFarland, confirmed on social media that Biffle and his family, including his wife Cristina and children, were on-board. 

"Unfortunately, I can confirm Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter and son were on that plane… because they were on their way to spend the afternoon with us," he wrote.

"We are devastated. I’m so sorry to share this."

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol confirmed that there had been seven fatalies in the crash, with none of the seven formally identified, but that it is believed "Mr Greg Biffle was one of the deceased occupants," as per NASCAR journalist Jordan Bianchi, present at the airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the crash, which is normal procedure for any air disaster in the United States. 

Biffle competed in the Cup Series 515 times over 16 seasons from his 2002 debut to his last race at Talladega in 2022. 

He won 19 Cup races, and finished as the runner-up to Tony Stewart in the 2005 season to mark his best finish. 

In 2002, he also won the Nationwide Series, later the XFinity Series, which is the step below on the Cup Series on the NASCAR tour. 

In 2023, he was also named one of NASCAR's greatest 75 drivers. 

During Hurricane Helene in September 2024, Biffle used his personal helicopter to help drop supplies to cut off residents after catastrophic rain-fall across remote areas of North Carolina. 

Everyone at RacingNews365 would like to send their condolences to the friends and family of Greg Biffle and his family, and the pilots of the aircraft at this tragic time.