The plane crashed in the area of Statesville Regional Airport on Thursday, December 18, 2025. Credit: Matt Kelley/AP/Profimedia
A small passenger plane crashed Thursday in North Carolina, and the event resulted in the death of seven people, according to local officials, notes The New York Times and AFP.
The plane, a Cessna C550, crashed while trying to land at Statesville Regional Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says. The event is being investigated by the relevant authorities.
The aircraft was registered to former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell said. The official said he could not yet confirm the identity of the victims, but that they were five adults and two children.
The Cessna C550 can carry up to eight passengers and two pilots.
Biffle, who in 2023 was named one of the 75 greatest NASCAR drivers of all time, holds a private pilot's license, according to FAA records. Last year, he used his personal helicopter to deliver supplies to areas affected by Hurricane Helene, PBS reported.
Several NASCAR teams and Fortune 500 companies use Statesville Regional Airport, which handles non-commercial traffic, including private, recreational and emergency flights.
John Ferguson, the airport's manager, told a news conference that the airport was closed and the cause of the crash was still unknown.
