Seven people, including former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and his family, were killed after the Cessna C550 jet crashed at around 10:20 a.m. (local time) on December 18 while landing at the Statesville, Carolina regional airport.

Video footage from the scene shows the terrifying moment when the Cessna private jet carrying the family of four of former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and three other passengers descended to an unusual altitude while trying to return to the runway at around 10:20 a.m. local time on Dec. 18.

According to the images shared, the plane appeared to be flying too low for a safe approach to the airport. Many witnesses who were present near the area said they noticed signs of the plane wobbling and unstable just seconds before the tragedy occurred.

Soon after, the plane crashed hard into the ground and exploded, forming a giant fireball. Flames covered the entire fuselage, while a thick column of black smoke rose into the sky, visible from a distance.

Rescue and firefighters quickly arrived at the scene, cordoned off the surrounding area to extinguish the fire and deploy rescue work. However, due to the severity of the collision and the large fire, no one on board is believed to have survived.

U.S. officials confirmed that several people, including former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and his family, were killed after a Cessna C550 jet crashed around 10:20 a.m. local time on Thursday while landing at Statesville, North Carolina Regional Airport.

According to initial reports, there were a total of 7 victims in the crash. On board the ill-fated flight were Mr. Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina Grossu, daughter Emma (14 years old) and son Ryder (5 years old). In addition, other passengers identified as Mr. Dennis Dutton and his son Jack, and Mr. Craig Wadsworth, a long-time member of the NASCAR community. This information was stated in a joint statement issued by the victims’ families.

Sports star Greg Biffle’s family

It is known that the crashed plane was owned by Mr. Greg Biffle. According to CNN, the plane left the Statesville regional airport, about 45 miles north of Charlotte, at around 10 a.m. Images at the scene showed flames covering the fug, dense columns of black smoke rising into the sky, prompting urgent rescue efforts.

Statesville Regional Airport confirmed the incident in an official statement: “We can confirm that an aviation incident has occurred at Statesville Regional Airport. At around 10:15 a.m., a plane crashed during landing. The Federal Aviation Administration is on its way to the scene to conduct an investigation.”

A spokesperson for the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also told The Express that the Cessna C550 crashed while landing at Statesville Airport at around 10:20 a.m. local time on December 18. The FAA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Board (NTSB) will coordinate the investigation of the incident, with the NTSB leading the case, and will release updates as new information becomes available.

Authorities are now collecting data, analyzing video footage and witness accounts to clarify what caused the plane to descend too low and lose control during approaching the runway. The official investigation is still ongoing.