Former NASCAR Driver Greg Biffle Killed In North Carolina Plane Crash UPDATED

North Carolina governor Josh Stein (D) confirmed that Biffle, 55, was among those killed. The identities of the others who were onboard the plane and who may have been injured or killed have not yet been released. Local law enforcement has said there are multiple fatalities.

The plane took off from Statesville Regional Airport in rural North Carolina and the airport reported an incident around 10 a.m. Eastern time.

Early reports indicated the plane was owned by GB Aviation Leasing. The company's headquarters match a Mooresville, N.C., address that belongs to Biffle.

UPDATE: Additional reporting from The Athletic confirms that Biffle's wife Cristina, his 14-year-old daughter Emma, and his five-year-old soon Ryder were also among those killed. Others killed in the crash are Dennis Dutton and his son Jack, and Craig Wadsworth.

From The Athletic:

“We are devastated by the loss of our loved ones. This tragedy has left all of our families heartbroken beyond words,” the families’ statement said.

“Greg was more than a champion driver, he was a beloved member of the NASCAR community, a fierce competitor, and a friend to so many,” NASCAR said. “His passion for racing, his integrity, and his commitment to fans and fellow competitors alike made a lasting impact on the sport.”

Flight-tracking app FlightAware apparently shows that the plane took off from Statesville at 10:06 a.m. and then suddenly looped back towards the airport. Flight plans show the plane was set to fly to Sarasota, Florida, before heading to the Bahamas.

Biffle was a licensed pilot who flew a helicopter to help people in rural North Carolina who were affected by massive floods during Hurricane Helene last year.

Biffle won 19 NASCAR Cup races during his career. He finished second in points to Tony Stewart in 2005, and he had six seasons in which he finished the year in the top 10 of the standings.

He has been nominated for the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

“Beyond his success as a NASCAR driver, Greg Biffle lived a life of courage and compassion and stepped up for western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene,” Stein  wrote on X.com, formerly known as Twitter. “My heart goes out to all those who lost a loved one in this tragic crash.”

[Images: NASCAR]

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