6 dead after private jet owned by NASCAR legend crashes in fiery wreckage
Six people were confirmed dead after a private jet crashed in North Carolina on Thursday with a NASCAR-associated passenger on board.
Low clouds, rain and poor visibility were reported in the area where the plane was reportedly landing at an airport in Statesville when it crashed and burst into flames, according to CNN. The identities of the people on board have not been released.
The plane was reportedly owned by NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, who was nominated for the NASCAR Hall of Fame this year. Biffle raced 14 full-time seasons, collecting 19 wins in over 500 starts, and was a perennial playoff contender. He finished in the top 10 in the standings six times, including a runner-up finish in 2005.
The Hall of Fame notes Biffle was named one of NASCAR’s 75 "greatest drivers."
The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office reported the fatalities, according to WSOC-TV. It's unknown if anyone on board survived.
The Cessna C550 business jet crashed while it was trying to land at the airport about 10:20 a.m. Thursday.