RECORDS: Private jet owned by NASCAR driver crashes at Statesville airport
STATESVILLE, N.C. — A Cessna C550 business jet crashed while landing Thursday morning at the Statesville Regional Airport, the FAA confirmed.
The plane is owned by NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, according to public records.
The Associated Press reports there were seven people on the Cessna C550 that crashed while landing at Statesville Regional Airport, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of Charlotte, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
“I can confirm there were fatalities,” Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell said.
Golfers playing next to the airport were shocked as they witnessed the disaster, even dropping to the ground at the Lakewood Golf Club while the plane was overhead. The ninth hole was covered with debris.
“We were like, ‘Oh my gosh! That’s way too low,’” said Joshua Green of Mooresville. “It was scary.”
The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA were investigating. AccuWeather says there was some drizzle and clouds at the time of the crash.
