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The moment of the plane crash that killed NASCAR legend Greg Biffle and his family was captured on video Thursday.
Footage from the doorbell showed the burning plane crash and crash across the runway at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina, leaving a massive flame in its path.
The plane was registered to GB Aviation LLC, a company owned by Biffle.
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NASCAR driver Greg Biffle holds his daughter Emma Elizabeth’s hand during driver introductions for the NASCAR Talladega auto race at Talladega Superspeedway, Sunday, May 1, 2016, in Talladega, Alabama. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)
The plane left the regional airport Thursday morning but was diverted back to Statesville and crashed during a landing attempt, authorities confirmed.
Biffle and wife Cristina shared a daughter, Emma, 14, and a 5-year-old son, Ryder — all of whom were on board with Dennis and Jack Dutton and Craig Wadsworth during the fatal crash, a statement from the victims’ families confirmed.
The seven-person flight was en route to the Bahamas via Sarasota, Florida, when it crashed at Statesville Regional Airport, about 45 miles north of Charlotte. The NTSB investigator in charge, Dan Baker, said the plane took off around 6 p.m. 10:05 a.m. ET and began returning to the airport five minutes after take off.
The plane crashed approximately 10 minutes after takeoff.
Officials did not give a reason, noting that weather conditions were relatively calm despite light rain.
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A private jet belonging to driver Greg Biffle takes off from Daytona Beach Airport during qualifying for NASCAR’s Daytona 500 auto race in Daytona Beach, Fla., Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) board member Michael Graham said Friday that three people aboard the Cessna C550 were licensed pilots, but officials were unable to verify who was conducting the flight.
“This is the beginning of a very long process, and we’re not going to jump to any conclusions while we’re on the scene here in North Carolina, nor are we going to jump to any conclusions,” Graham said of the investigation.
The incident has given rise to an outpouring of sympathy and prayers from across the country.
North Carolina political figures, including Gov. Josh Stein, Rep. Pat Harrigan and Rep. Richard Hudson, weighed in after learning Biffle and his family were among the seven victims of the plane crash. Governor Stein described the loss as “heartbreaking” and recalled Biffle’s selfless response after the state was devastated by Hurricane Helene.
NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon and other racers expressed condolences on social media as the organization released a statement in memory of Biffle.
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Greg Biffle celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas on October 3, 2010. (Orlin Wagner, File/AP Photo)
“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 in a statement. “His passion for racing, his integrity and his commitment to fans and fellow competitors alike made a lasting impact on the sport.
“On the track, Greg’s talent and tenacity earned him championships in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, as well as numerous wins and awards in the NASCAR Cup Series. In addition to his racing career, he gave of himself to better our community. Most notably, Greg spent many hours in his relief efforts in North Carolina. Following Hurricane Helene, his tireless work saved lives.”
