Multiple deaths confirmed after fatal private jet crash at Statesville Regional Airport.
A plane has crashed at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina at approximately 10:15 a.m. The Cessna 550 Citation (registration N257BW) was trying to land back.
Emergency response is underway.
The jet is reportedly owned by American race car driver Greg Biffle. Local media outlets have suggested that Biffle and his family may have been onboard, though authorities have not verified this claim.
The Cessna 550 Citation, specifically the Citation II, is a cornerstone of the light business jet industry, renowned for its balance of simplicity, safety, and versatility.
First introduced in the late 1970s as a stretch version of the original Citation I, its hallmark “straight-wing” design allows it to operate from shorter runways that remain inaccessible to many faster, swept-wing competitors. While it earned the playful nickname “Slowtation” due to its modest cruise speeds, the 550’s forgiving flight characteristics and certification for single-pilot operation made it an enduring favorite for corporate travel, Medevac missions, and military training alike. Today, it remains a rugged workhorse of the general aviation fleet, celebrated for its reliability and its pivotal role in making jet travel accessible to smaller regional operators.
UPDATE
Former NASCAR star Greg Biffle was among multiple people killed in a plane crash at Statesville Regional Airport in rural North Carolina, Gov. Josh Stein confirmed on Thursday.
