The world of sports and beyond is mourning after a devastating private plane crash claimed the lives of former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his entire family, and three others. The tragic accident occurred on the morning of Thursday, December 18, as the aircraft attempted to land in North Carolina.
Haunting Final Message Before Disaster
New heartbreaking details reported by People magazine reveal that Cristina Biffle, Greg's wife, was aware something was critically wrong during the flight. Moments before the crash, she managed to send a chilling text message to her mother, Cathy Grossu.
The message read simply, "We're in trouble." That was the last communication anyone received from the family. "She texted me from the plane and she said, 'We're in trouble.' And that was it," a devastated Grossu told the outlet.
Details of the Fatal Crash
The aircraft, a Cessna C500, crashed and burst into flames while trying to land at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina just before 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Terrifying video from the scene showed the plane completely engulfed in flames on the runway as emergency responders rushed to the site.
All on board perished. The victims included:
- Greg Biffle, the semi-retired NASCAR driver
- Cristina Biffle, his wife
- Their 14-year-old daughter, Emma
- Their 5-year-old son, Ryder
- Craig Wadsworth
- Dennis Dutton and his son, Jack
Grossu shared that the group was headed to Florida for a birthday trip when the tragedy struck.
A Family Remembered for Their Kindness
In the wake of the loss, family members are remembering the Biffles for their generous spirits. Grossu described the situation as "hard to bear" and said she couldn't "believe they're gone."
She recalled that one of her last conversations with her daughter was about Cristina's charitable work. Cristina had been sending Santa letters to families in need and was determined to mail the final 17 letters before their trip.
"So I ran over and got 'em and took them to their house, and when they got home last night, she put them in envelopes and finished them all up to get them off to those last 17 families to bring joy to them, and that would be the last thing that she would've done," Grossu recounted.
Greg Biffle was also known for his humanitarian efforts, which included flying into Western North Carolina earlier this year to assist with relief operations after Hurricane Helene.
The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, leaving a community and fans worldwide grappling with the sudden loss of a family known for both speed on the track and compassion off it.
