A calm North Carolina morning shattered in seconds.
What should have been a routine departure from Statesville Regional Airport turned into a devastating aviation emergency that stunned residents and rippled through the motorsports community. A private jet linked to organizations associated with former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle lifted off at 10:06 a.m., only for the flight to end abruptly just minutes later.
The aircraft, a Cessna Citation II operated through GB Aviation Leasing and connected to Pace Offroad, was expected to complete a short, uneventful journey. Instead, flight data shows the jet briefly changed direction after takeoff, then turned back toward the airport under circumstances that are now the focus of an intensive federal investigation.
Moments later, the aircraft went down near the airport perimeter, close to East Aviation Drive. Witnesses reported seeing smoke and hearing a loud impact, prompting an immediate emergency response. Fire crews, medical teams, and law enforcement rushed to the scene as the airport was placed under a full shutdown, halting all air traffic indefinitely.
Authorities confirmed that six people were on board, but officials have emphasized that details regarding the occupants and outcomes will only be released once families are formally notified. Investigators from the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board arrived quickly and began securing evidence, reviewing flight paths, and collecting witness statements to reconstruct the jet’s final moments.
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