Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina is reeling from a recent Evansville jet crash. Tragically, fourteen lives were lost in that massacre, among them Nascar legend Greg Biffle and several members of his extended family. The business jet had departed the airport at 10 a.m. Shortly thereafter, it was likely going around when it tried to land, resulting in the catastrophe. Most recently, our trip landed us at Treasure Cay International Airport in the Bahama Islands. After that, it was back to Statesville for a planned recovery landing.
The incident occurred about 45 minutes north of Charlotte. Eyewitness accounts indicated that when the plane hit the ground, it exploded into a massive fireball, showering debris in all directions and across surrounding neighborhoods. Specifically, golfers teeing off at the course with a view of Lakewood Golf Club saw the tragic event play out. Joshua Green, one of the golfers, recounted the moment, saying, “We were like, ‘Oh my gosh! That’s way too low.’”
The business jet was scheduled to operate a package of flights. It would then turn around and return to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, arriving back in Statesville by mid-evening. The aircraft was unable to touch down safely and crashed on takeoff. This unimaginable accident resulted in an enormous loss of life for those on board and ground victims. In addition to the nine people aboard the aircraft, eleven were confirmed dead on the ground.
Local municipalities and state patrol have worked very hard to determine what is going on. They shared that the post-crash fire has made it difficult to identify all occupants. Greg Biffle and his immediate family as well as support for them were on that aircraft, they say.
“Although the post-crash fire prevents us from releasing a definitive list of the occupants at this time, it is believed that Mr. Gregory Biffle and members of his immediate family were occupants of the airplane,” – state police.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has already sent a team to investigate the crash. This crash is one of 1,331 U.S. crashes that the NTSB is investigating in just 2025. The purpose of this investigation should be to find out why this accident occurred and what systemic issues may have led to such a tragic outcome.
As we learn more about this tragic incident, our community grieves for those who lost their lives. They’re dealing with the aftermath of this monstrous tragedy. With the continued cooperation of all involved, answering the needs of those touched by this tragedy will be a top priority and ongoing effort.