New Details Emerge in NASCAR Legend Greg Biffle's Fatal Crash — One Passenger Wasn't Supposed to Be on the Plane

Federal investigators say a brief, chilling message was sent from inside a small jet moments before it went down near a North Carolina runway. Separate revelations have also emerged about a painful decision made before the flight.

On Saturday, December 20, 2025, authorities released an early update on the crash of a Cessna Citation 550 near Statesville Regional Airport, which occurred in clear daylight just minutes after departure and killed seven people.

Only later did investigators confirm the identities of those on board and the contents of the message.

Who Was on Board

Among the seven people killed were former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his wife, Cristina Biffle, their youngest son, Ryder Biffle, and his teenage daughter, Emma Biffle.

Also killed were Craig Wadsworth, Dennis Dutton, and his son, Jack Dutton, according to federal authorities.

Greg, a longtime NASCAR standout and former Cup Series winner, was traveling with his family when the aircraft encountered trouble just minutes after takeoff.

When and Where the Crash Happened

The plane departed from runway 10 at Statesville Regional Airport at approximately 10:05 a.m. Thursday. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, it was airborne for about 10 minutes before attempting to return and land on runway 28.

Investigators have not yet determined why the aircraft turned back so soon after takeoff. As it approached the runway, the jet struck an approach light stanchion roughly 1,800 feet from the runway threshold before crashing.

Investigators Reveal the Contents of the Text Message

Michael Graham of the National Transportation Safety Board revealed the message. During a briefing, he described the message as "one brief text from a passenger on board the aircraft," emphasizing that it is the only known communication from inside the aircraft.

"I can confirm that the NTSB is aware of one brief text from a passenger on board the aircraft to a family member that read, and I quote, 'emergency landing,'" Graham said. "We are not aware of any other communications from passengers on board the aircraft to those on the ground."

According to Graham, early evidence suggests the aircraft was adequately configured for landing. "Early indications from multiple sources indicate that the airplane was stable on approach, configured for landing with the landing lights on, but the aircraft was coming in low," he said.

Multiple witness statements support that assessment, including accounts from people who were only yards from the aircraft as it came down.

A Witness Description From Nearby

One witness, an airport worker who was about 200 yards away at the time, described the crash during a 911 call. His words were later obtained from emergency recordings.

"Hello, I'm at Lakewood Golf Course right now, and we just had a plane fly over our heads and crash into the tree line and a huge explosion near the runway out here,” the caller said.

"We're on hole one, and it came from the tree line to right over our heads and then flipped the tree line by hole nine and went straight downwards in a huge explosion. I don't know if the guy's okay," he ended his description.

But beyond the technical questions surrounding the accident, more details have emerged that underscore the deeply personal loss at the heart of the investigation.

One Passenger Wasn't Supposed to Be There

During the funeral for Greg’s daughter, Emma, her mother, Nicole Lunders, shared a devastating detail about a decision made shortly before the flight.

According to a report from The Sun, Emma had not been feeling well and was not originally supposed to be on the plane. In a letter she was too overcome to read aloud, Nicole wrote that she would always agonize over allowing Emma to travel that day despite her discomfort.

Nicole also revealed that she had bought tickets to Italy the night before the crash as a Christmas present for her daughter. The service, held Sunday afternoon, drew mourners from across the NASCAR community and Emma's private school, Davidson Day.

How the Investigation Is Unfolding

The NTSB has recovered the cockpit voice recorder and sent it to its Washington, D.C., lab for analysis. Although the aircraft was not required to carry one under Part 91 general aviation rules, investigators say it may provide crucial insight.

Additional avionics, including a ground proximity warning system and a Garmin G750 display, were also recovered and sent for examination.

"Our recorder labs have specialists that can download data from this equipment, even when it's been damaged," Graham said. "Much of this data is very helpful to the investigators for determining the probable cause."

Investigators are still working to identify who was in the left seat at the time of the crash and are reviewing maintenance records, weight-and-balance calculations, and security video.

Wreckage recovery began Saturday, and a preliminary report is expected within 30 days. A final determination of probable cause could take 12 to 18 months. The NTSB is asking anyone with photos, videos, or documentation related to the crash to contact witness@ntsb.gov.

As investigators work to piece together the final minutes of the flight, including the moment that prompted the final text, those left behind are grappling not only with unanswered questions but with moments and decisions that can never be undone.