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A terrifying text message sent by a passenger aboard the deadly North Carolina plane crash that claimed the lives of NASCAR star Greg Biffle and his family suggests the plane may have tried to return to Statesville Regional Airport about 10 minutes after takeoff for an “emergency landing.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) held a news conference Saturday morning to discuss the plane crash that claimed the lives of all seven passengers on board Thursday morning. NTSB Board Member Michael Graham confirmed that the exact cause of the accident remains unknown.
Greg Biffle is introduced during a driver introduction before a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, on July 5, 2015. (Terry Reyna, AP File/Photo)
He began his speech by saying: “We do not know the circumstances that led the plane… to try to return to the airport, but this is the focus of our investigation.”
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Graham was asked at Friday’s initial news conference about a text message sent from Bevel’s wife, Christina Grosso Bevel, to her mother in which she wrote: “We’re in trouble.”
At the time, Graham said he was not aware of the message, but confirmed on Saturday that an unnamed passenger had sent the distressing message.
“This morning, I can confirm that the NTSB is aware of an SMS from a passenger on the plane to a family member that said: ‘Emergency landing.’”
Graham added: “We are not aware of any other communications from passengers on board to those on the ground.” ]
NASCAR Cup Series driver Greg Biffle (44) during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. (Mike DiNovo/USA TODAY Sports)
Greg Biffle’s wife sent a worrying text message moments before the plane crash
Biffle, 55, was killed alongside his wife, Christina, and two children, Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14. Three other people killed on board the plane were identified as Dennis Dutton, his son Jack, and Craig Wadsworth.
The seven-person flight was en route to the Bahamas via Sarasota, Florida, when it crashed at Statesville Regional Airport, about 45 miles north of Charlotte. The plane took off at about 10:05 a.m. ET and began returning to the airport five minutes after takeoff, NTSB Investigator in Charge Dan Baker said Friday.
The plane crashed about 10 minutes after take-off.
No. 69 Greg Biffle kisses his son as Christina Grosso looks on before getting into his car during the Camping World Superstar Racing Experience event at Slinger Speedway on July 10, 2021, in Slinger, Wisconsin. (Logan Riley/SRX via Getty Images)
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According to Graham, three people on board the Cessna C550 plane were licensed pilots, but officials were unable until Friday to verify the identity of the flight’s pilot. He added on Saturday that this information is still unknown.
He also noted on Saturday that early witness accounts did not indicate any obvious problems with the plane.
He added: “Initial evidence from multiple sources indicates that the plane was stable on approach and prepared to land with the landing lights on, but the plane was approaching at a low level.”
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