NTSB Reveals Distressing Message Passenger Sent Before NASCAR Star Greg Biffle’s Fatal Plane Crash
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A chilling text message sent by a passenger aboard the fatal North Carolina plane crash that killed NASCAR star Greg Biffle and his family suggests the plane may have attempted to return to Statesville Regional Airport about 10 minutes after takeoff for an “emergency landing.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) held a news conference Saturday morning to discuss the plane crash that killed all seven passengers on board Thursday morning. NTSB board member Michael Graham confirmed that the exact cause of the accident is unknown.
Greg Biffle is introduced during driver introductions before a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, on July 5, 2015. (Terry Renna, AP file/photo)
“We do not know the circumstances that led the aircraft… to attempt to return to the airport, but that is the focus of our investigation,” he began.
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Graham was asked at Friday’s initial news conference about a text message sent by Biffle’s wife, Cristina Grossu Biffle, to his mother in which she texted: “We’re in trouble.”
At the time, Graham said he was unaware of the message, but on Saturday he confirmed that an anonymous passenger sent a distressing message.
“This morning I can confirm that the NTSB is aware of a brief text message from a passenger aboard the plane to a family member that read: ‘Emergency landing.'”
Graham added: “We are not aware of any other communications between passengers on board the aircraft and those on the ground.” ]
NASCAR Cup Series driver Greg Biffle (44) during Daytona 500 practice at Daytona International Speedway. (Mike Dinovo/USA TODAY Sports)
GREG BIFFLE’S WIFE SENT CONCERNING TEXT MESSAGES MOMENTS BEFORE THE PLANE CRASHED
Biffle, 55, died alongside his wife, Cristina, and children Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14. Three other people who died on board were identified as Dennis Dutton, his son Jack and Craig Wadsworth.
The seven-person flight was headed to the Bahamas via Sarasota, Florida, when it crashed at Statesville Regional Airport, about 45 miles north of Charlotte. NTSB Investigator-in-Charge Dan Baker said Friday that the plane took off at approximately 10:05 a.m. ET and began returning to the airport five minutes after takeoff.
The plane crashed about 10 minutes after departure.
Greg Biffle #69 kisses his son with Cristina Grossu looking on before getting into his car during the Camping World Superstar Racing Experience event at Slinger Speedway on July 10, 2021, in Slinger, Wisconsin. (Logan Riely/SRX via Getty Images)
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According to Graham, three people aboard the Cessna C550 were licensed pilots, but officials were unable to verify who was piloting the flight until Friday. He added on Saturday that that information was still unknown.
He also noted Saturday that early witness accounts did not point to any apparent problems with the plane.
“Early indications from multiple sources indicate that the aircraft was stable on approach, configured to land with landing lights on, but the aircraft was descending.”
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