Tragedy struck the NASCAR community once again on Thursday when a private jet owned by Greg Biffle crashed in North Carolina, claiming multiple lives.
The Cessna Citation airplane was seen engulfed in flames to the right of the runway at Statesville Regional Airport on Thursday morning at around 10:15 am.
There were six people on the private plane when it plummeted to the ground and it was later confirmed that NASCAR legend Biffle had died in the crash.
‘Unfortunately, I can confirm Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, and son Ryder were on that plane… because they were on their way to spend the afternoon with us,’ Garrett Mitchell, one of Biffle’s friends, wrote on Facebook.
While investigators probe the wreckage of the Cessna Citation, fans are left reeling from the familiar sting of a community losing its own in such tragic circumstances.
For decades, the high-octane world of NASCAR has been punctuated by sudden and violent aviation tragedies that have wiped out champions and racers alike.
NASCAR legend Greg Biffle, his wife and two children have died in the fiery plane crash
Biffle is seen with his wife, Cristina and their five-year-old son, Ryder
The plane crashed at Statesville Regional Airport on Thursday morning
The roots of this ‘curse’ date back decades and first began after an aviation crash claimed the life of one of the sport’s original icons back in 1970.
Hall of Fame driver Curtis Turner, recognized as one of the Cup Series’ first true superstars, was killed when his Aero Commander 500 went down near Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
The 46-year-old was traveling with professional golfer Clarence King when the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff while bound for Roanoke, Virginia.
An official review later suggested the tragedy unfolded after King suffered an in-flight heart attack, forcing a struggle to land the plane that cost both men their lives.
The most infamous year of the ‘NASCAR curse’ remains 1993, a season which saw the sport lose two of its brightest starts in the span of just four months.
In April of that year, reigning Cup Series champion Alan Kulwicki was killed when his Swearingen Merlin III lost power on approach to a Tennessee airport.
Ice had been sucked into the engines of the plane, according to reports, killing the 38-year-old and three others instantly.
Just 102 days later, tragedy struck again when Davey Allison attempted to land his Hughes 369HS helicopter in the paddock at Talladega Superspeedway.
Biffle pictured with daughter Emma and Vice President of the United States J.D Vance
First responders rushed to the horrific scene in North Carolina on Thursday morning
The most infamous year of the ‘NASCAR curse’ remains 1993, when legends Alan Kulwicki and Davey Allison both died in plane crashes just 102 days apart
Kulwicki died when his Swearingen Merlin III lost power on approach to a Tennessee airport
The NASCAR Hall of Famer had been travelling to the event to watch David Bonnett, the son of his friend Neil, test the speedway. However, he never made it.
Reports revealed that the nose of the helicopter tipped upwards, causing the vehicle to crash. Allison, only 32, died from his injuries the following day.
The curse continued into 1998, when Julian Martin, the father of NASCAR legend Mark Martin, was killed when his aircraft plummeted into the Great Basin National Park in Nevada.
The crash also claimed the lives of Martin’s stepmother, Shelly and his stepsister, Sara.
Julian was considered a personal hero by his son, having taught Mark to steer while sitting on his lap before the his legs could even reach the pedals.
The racing world was again brought to its knees in October 2004 by yet another tragic disaster. This time, it involved Hendrick Motorsports, who are widely considered as NASCAR’s most successful ever team with over 300 Cup Series wins.
21 years ago, a Beechcraft Super King Air 200 carrying the inner circle of the Hendrick empire vanished into the fog of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Julian Martin (left), father of NASCAR driver Mark Martin, died in a plane crash in 1998
John Hendrick, president of Hendrick Motorsports, was killed in a plane crash back in 2004
All twelve people on board were killed including John Hendrick, president of Hendrick Motorsports, his twin daughters and Ricky Hendrick, the heir to the Hendrick empire.
The plane had been heading to a race at Martinsville when it missed its approach in heavy mist – conditions eerily similar to the ‘low clouds’ reported in Thursday’s crash.
Other legends have narrowly escaped the same fate, including Ernie Irvan and Neil Bonnett, who both survived separate aviation incidents before their time on the track.
Meanwhile, preliminary flight tracking showed that Biffle’s aircraft left Statesville Regional Airport, which is about 45 miles north of Charlotte, at around 10 am.
There were six people on the private plane when it fell from the sky. It is unclear who was piloting the aircraft.
The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) told the Daily Mail that the Cessna C550 crashed while attempting to land.
The tragic incident comes after Biffle posted a picture of him piloting the very same plane in September.
According to FAA records, the aircraft belongs to the semi-retired NASCAR driver who was seen in a smiling snap with President Donald Trump in February at the NASCAR Cup series in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Biffle competed in 244 NASCAR races over 11 years before his tragic death on Thursday
Biffle pictured alongside son Ryder and his ex-wife, Nicole Lunders
Garrett Mitchell, who often appears in YouTube videos with Biffle, wrote on Facebook to say his friend was on board the plane
He married his ex-wife, Nicole Lunders, in October 2007. They share a teenage daughter, Emma Elizabeth, together. The pair got divorced in 2016.
Biffle went on to marry his current wife, Cristina Grossu, in January 2023 after getting engaged in 2021. They share five-year-old Ryder.
Nearly 24 hours before the fatal crash, Cristina posted a picture in the car on her Instagram story with the caption: ‘Busy day today.’
Grossu was a realtor, CEO of My Replica Ring, and a travel agent for CG Luxe Travel, according to her Instagram account.
The couple often posted pictures together online at family and racing events.
Statesville Regional Airport said in a statement: ‘We can confirm there has been an aircraft incident at the Statesville Regional Airport.
‘At approximately 10:15 am, an aircraft crashed while landing. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is en route and will investigate the incident.’
