Greg Biffle Plane Crash: What Happened, Who Was Onboard + Cristina’s Final Text
New details are emerging following the tragic plane crash that killed NASCAR champion Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, their two children, and three others on Thursday (Dec. 18).
What Happened?
The crash occurred at approximately 10:15 a.m. ET as a Cessna C550 business jet attempted to land at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina.
According to officials, the plane had taken off just minutes earlier—around 10:06 a.m.—and appeared to attempt a return due to inclement weather. Witnesses said the plane exploded into a fireball on impact.
FlightAware tracking data shows the jet was en route to Sarasota, Florida, with the group reportedly continuing on to the Bahamas—a favorite vacation spot for the Biffle family, and the place where Greg and Cristina were married in 2022.
Who Was Onboard?
Seven people were killed in the crash:
Greg Biffle, 55 – NASCAR champion and humanitarian
Cristina Biffle, 35 – Greg’s wife, married in 2023
Ryder Biffle, 5 – their son
Emma Biffle, 14 – Greg’s daughter with ex-wife Nicole Lunders
Craig Wadsworth – family friend and passenger
Dennis Dutton and Jack Dutton – father and son
Records show that at least two certified pilots were on the plane: Greg himself and a professional airline pilot.
Cristina’s Final Message
Moments before the crash, Cristina Grossu Biffle sent a chilling text to her mother, Cathy Grossu.
“She texted me from the plane and she said, ‘We’re in trouble.’ And that was it,” Cathy told People. “So we’re devastated. We’re brokenhearted.”
Tributes and Family Statements
A joint statement from the families read: “Each of them meant everything to us, and their absence leaves an immeasurable void in our lives… We ask for privacy, compassion, and understanding as we grieve and begin to process this unimaginable loss.”
“At this moment, our focus is on honoring their lives and supporting one another,” the statement added.
Read More: Racecar Driver Dies After Mid-Race Heart Attack
NASCAR also released a statement: “NASCAR is devastated by the tragic loss of Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, son Ryder, Craig Wadsworth, and Dennis and Jack Dutton in a fatal plane crash.”
Remembering Greg Biffle
Known affectionately as “The Biff,” Greg Biffle was a beloved NASCAR veteran with championship wins in the Truck Series (2000) and Xfinity Series (2002). In 2023, he was named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers.
But off the track, Biffle was just as admired for his humanitarian work.
After Hurricane Helene, he used his personal helicopter to fly emergency supplies, food, fuel, medical equipment—even baby formula and EpiPens—to remote North Carolina communities cut off by floodwaters.
Flying with some supply drops today and flew through this area of Asheville with unconfirmed propane or fuel leak everyone stay safe #wnc pic.twitter.com/JJAQZDveAZ
— Greg Biffle (@gbiffle) October 3, 2024
In 2024, he was honored with the NMPA Myers Brothers Award for his dedication to service.
“They were friends who lived their lives focused on helping others,” Rep. Rick Hudson, a close family friend, wrote on X. “Greg was an extraordinary person… he’ll be remembered for his service to others as much as for his fearlessness on the track.”
Ongoing Investigation
The FAA arrived at the crash site shortly after noon on Thursday and is now leading the investigation. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined.
11 Country Singers Who Died in Plane Crashes
Remembering the country music legends and musicians who died in plane and helicopter crashes.
This list proves that small risks an artist takes each time they travel to a show adds up.
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes
Buddy Holly
Geffen Records
Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly was a pioneer in rock music, but his influence extends into country. He was killed on Feb. 3, 1959, when the small plane carrying him from a show in Clear Lake, Iowa, to another show in Moorhead, Minn., crashed into a cornfield in Mason City, Iowa, shortly after taking off in inclement weather. The same accident also killed Ritchie Valens, the Big Bopper and the pilot, Roger Peterson. Holly’s bass player, Waylon Jennings, was not on board because he had volunteered to ride on the bus so the Big Bopper could ride on the plane. The incident reportedly haunted him for the rest of his life.
Patsy Cline
MCA Nashville
Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline was one of the first big female stars in country music, with a string of classic hits including “Walkin’ After Midnight,” “Crazy” and more. She died in a plane crash outside Camden, Tenn., on March 5, 1963 when the small plane she was on crashed in a heavy downpour on her way back to Nashville from a show in Kansas City, Kan.
Cowboy Copas
King Records
Cowboy Copas
Cowboy Copas was a country singer who attained popularity beginning in the 1940s. He earned the nickname of “The Country Gentleman of Song” and was a member of the Grand Ole Opry. He died on March 5, 1963, in the same plane crash that killed Patsy Cline.
Hawkshaw Hawkins
Bear Family Records
Hawkshaw Hawkins
Hawkshaw Hawkins was a popular country singer from the 1950s into the early 1960s. He was a Grand Ole Opry member and was married to fellow Opry star Jean Shepard. He died on March 5, 1963, in the same plane crash that killed Patsy Cline and Cowboy Copas.
Jim Reeves
Hulton Archive, Getty Images
Jim Reeves
Jim Reeves was one of country music’s most influential early singers, earning hits in the ’50s and ’60s. Best known for “He’ll Have to Go,” Reeves was instrumental in popularizing the Nashville Sound, which fused country music with strings for a more mainstream appeal. He was also one of the first American country singers to achieve significant success overseas. He died on Friday, July 31, 1964, during a rain storm outside of Nashville while flying back from Batesville, Ark., where he had conducted a real estate deal. Reeves was piloting the plane at the time. His business partner and manager Dean Manuel also died in the crash.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Geffen Records
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd are one of the most influential Southern rock bands of all time, and their influence is felt in much of contemporary country music as well. On Oct. 20, 1977, the band’s chartered plane ran out of fuel and crashed in Gillsburg, Miss., near the end of a flight from Greenville, S.C., to Baton Rouge, La. Lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist/vocalist Steve Gaines and backing vocalist Cassie Gaines (Steve’s older sister) died in the crash, along with assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray. The crash happened three days after the release of the band’s fifth album, Street Survivors, whose cover depicted the band members standing in front of flames. The record label re-issued the album with a new cover after the accident.
Ricky Nelson
Hulton Archive, Getty Images
Ricky Nelson
Ricky Nelson started his career as a teen idol, scoring early successes as a singer and actor. His impact was felt across rock and country music, with his later career focusing more on country. He was killed on Dec. 31, 1985, when his small private plane crashed northeast of Dallas in De Kalb, Texas, after taking off from Guntersville, Ala. Nelson was headed for a New Year’s Eve show in Dallas. Investigators concluded the crash was likely caused by a a fire caused by a malfunctioning heater in the cabin of the plane.
Reba McEntires Band
Terry Wyatt, Getty Images
Reba McEntire’s Band
Reba McEntitre is one of the queens of country music, scoring a run of endless hits over decades. In the early morning of March 16, 1991, a small plane carrying eight of McEntire’s band members crashed into Olay Mountain near San Diego, Calif., after a private show for IBM executives. The crash was attributed to poor visibility. McEntire dedicated her sixteenth album, For My Broken Heart, to the band members who were killed in the crash.
John Denver
sony legacy
John Denver
John Denver began his career as a folk singer before rocketing to solo success as one of the most popular pop and country singers of his generation in the ’70s with songs including “Annie’s Song,” “Rocky Mountain High,” “Back Home Again” and more. He died on Oct. 12, 1997, when his experimental Adrian Davis Long-EZ plane crashed into Monterey Bay near Pacific Grove, Calif., after running out of fuel.
Troy Gentry
Frederick Breedon IV, Getty Images
Troy Gentry
Troy Gentry was one-half of the country duo Montgomery Gentry, who scored a long string of hits in the ’90s and 2000s including “My Town” and “Something to Be Proud Of.” He died on Sept. 8, 2017, in a helicopter crash just hours before a scheduled Montgomery Gentry concert in Medford, N.J.
Brett James
Jason Kempin, Getty Images
Brett James
Songwriter Brett James was killed in a small-engine airplane accident on Sept. 18, 2025. Over the course of his 25-year songwriting career, he wrote dozens of No. 1 hits for artists like Carrie Underwood (“Jesus Take the Wheel”), Kenny Chesney (“When the Sun Goes Down”), Dierks Bentley (“I Hold On”) and more.
Three people died in the plane crash that took James’ life. It happened near an elementary school in Franklin, N.C.
