A passenger aboard a small private jet that crashed in North Carolina on Thursday sent a text message reading “emergency landing” to a family member just moments before the aircraft went down, killing seven people, including former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, federal transportation officials confirmed on Saturday, Baltimore Chronicle.
The Cessna C550 crashed at approximately 10:20 a.m. local time while attempting to land at Statesville Regional Airport, about 45 miles north of Charlotte. Among the victims were Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, their daughter Emma, and son Ryder, as well as Dennis and Jack Dutton, and Craig Wadsworth.
NTSB Board Member Michael Graham confirmed at a news conference that the agency is aware of a single brief text sent from a passenger on board to a family member stating, “emergency landing.” Graham did not disclose who sent or received the message and noted that investigators have no knowledge of other communications from passengers to individuals on the ground.
A 16-member NTSB team arrived at the crash site on Thursday to begin the investigation. Preliminary findings suggest that the aircraft departed from one runway and attempted to land on another after being airborne for roughly ten minutes. Witnesses reported the plane appeared stable on approach with its landing lights on, though it came in lower than expected.
The NTSB has not confirmed who was piloting the plane at the time of the crash. Previously, it was reported that three individuals on board held pilot’s licenses. Investigators recovered the cockpit voice recorder and sent it to the NTSB laboratory in Washington, D.C. for analysis. The plane did not have a flight data recorder, which was not mandatory for this type of aircraft. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days, with a final report projected in 12 to 18 months.
NASCAR released a statement remembering Greg Biffle as more than a champion driver, emphasizing his contributions to the community, competitive spirit, and dedication to fans and fellow racers. Families of those aboard expressed their devastation over the loss, noting the void left by their loved ones and requesting privacy and understanding as they mourn and process the tragedy.
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