Business jet crashes at North Carolina airport; 7 killed; video surfaces

A private jet carrying seven people, among them former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and members of his family, crashed while attempting to land at a North Carolina airport on Thursday, killing all on board, authorities said.

The Cessna C550 burst into flames upon impact at Statesville Regional Airport, roughly 45 miles north of Charlotte. Flight records indicated the aircraft was registered to a company operated by Biffle.


The incident occurred at Statesville Regional Airport.


“We can confirm there has been an aircraft incident. At approximately 10:15 am, an aircraft crashed while landing. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is en route and will investigate the incident,” the airport said in a post on its Facebook page.

It added that more details would be shared as they become available.

The plane involved was a Cessna C550 business jet that crashed while landing at the airport, the Associated Press quoted the FAA as saying.

“I can confirm there were fatalities," Iredell County Sheriff Grant Campbell told AP, though he declined to say how many.

Videos carried by local media showed first responders rushing onto the runway as flames burned amid scattered aircraft wreckage.

According to its website, Statesville Regional Airport provides corporate aviation facilities for Fortune 500 companies and several NASCAR teams.

Statesville is located about 45 miles (72 km) north of Charlotte, North Carolina’s most populous city.