Greg Biffle, wife Cristina and kids die in Statesville plane crash; Cleetus McFarland shares update

Greg Biffle and his family were aboard the plane that crashed at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina, Cleetus McFarland confirmed.

Updated on: Dec 19, 2025, 01:51:54 IST

By Shamik Banerjee

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Former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and his family were on board the Cessna C550 aircraft as it crashed at Statesville Regional Airport in Statesville, North Carolina, on Wednesday morning, CNN reported citing sources.

Greg Biffle with his wife, Cristina Grossu, and his daughter (from his previous marriage) Emma and son Jack Ryder. (Cristina Grossu on Instagram)

Meanwhile, the Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell said that there were fatalities in the plane crash. “I can confirm there were fatalities,” he said, without clarifying how many. CNN reported that sources briefed on the situation told them that all on board died in the crash.

"Unfortunately, I can confirm Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma and son Ryder were on the plane...because they were on their way to spend the afternoon with us," McFarland, aka Garett Mitchell, wrote. "We are devastated. I'm so sorry to share this."

The Cessna C550, registered to a company owned by Biffle, crashed shortly takeoff from the airport in Iredell County, North Carolina around 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday. Six people were on board the aircraft, the FAA confirmed.

Flight tracking data showed that the Cessna plane had a day-long journey to Florida planned, with a return to Statesville by evening.

It was on the way to Sarasota, Florida, followed by Treasure Cay International Airport in the Bahamas. It was then supposed to return to Fort Lauderdale, Florida and then return to Statesville by evening.

Also read: Greg Biffle family: Who is wife Cristina Grossu and his children? All on NASCAR driver amid plane crash

It's unclear what caused the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the crash.

However, it was cloudy with a bit of drizzle at the airport when the plane took off from Statesville, AP reported, citing AccuWeather data. The plane reportedly took off and attempted to land again but crashed during landing.

It erupted into massive flames as first responders rushed, videos from the scene broadcasted by local media showed.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shamik Banerjee
Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More

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