(NewsNation) — The sports world is mourning the death of NASCAR legend Greg Biffle, who died in a plane crash Thursday along with his wife and two children.
Biffle’s private plane crashed minutes after takeoff while trying to return to Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina. The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the crash and will arrive Friday to inspect the wreckage. A doorbell camera at a nearby home captured the moment the plane crashed and burst into flames.
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Resident Brevin Renwick said: “My blinds were closed but a little open so I saw some red flashes and a moment later I heard a loud noise that shook the whole house.”
In a joint statement, the families confirmed the deaths of Greg and Christina Biffle, their son Ryder and daughter Emma, Dennis Dutton and his son Jack, and Craig Wadsworth.
“We are devastated by the loss of our loved ones,” the statement read. “This tragedy has left all of our families heartbroken.”
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“Greg and Christina were devoted parents and active philanthropists whose lives centered around their young son, Ryder, and Greg’s daughter, Emma,” the statement continued. “Each of them means everything to us, and their absence leaves an immeasurable void in our lives.”
Biffle is known for his performance on and off the track. Biffle is an experienced pilot who used his private helicopter to help deliver supplies to North Carolina residents stranded by flooding caused by Hurricane Helene in September 2024. At the time, NewsNation’s Anna Kooiman spoke with the family about how they are using their skills and connections to deliver food and medical supplies to the area’s stranded residents.
“We were tagged in a bunch of posts on Facebook,” Cristina Biffle said in an interview. “There was a family with two young kids who were stranded in their Airbnb and they were looking for a helicopter. We didn’t know what was actually going on there yet. I told Greg, I said, hey, listen, we have a helicopter. Should we go? And he said, ‘Well, I’ll try it.’ That’s when the whole thing started.”
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As the investigation into Thursday’s accident continues, officials said it will take time to clear debris from the tarmac.
Roy Yelton, who has known Biffle for decades, said he hopes everyone can continue.
“I know it will hit me even harder when I realize it’s really over. His friendship will always be in my heart,” he said.
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