Passenger texted 'emergency landing' moments before crash that killed former NASCAR driver, family
A person aboard a small private jet that crashed in North Carolina on Thursday texted "emergency landing" to a family member moments before the plane went down, killing seven people, including former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, federal transportation officials confirmed Saturday.
The Cessna C550 crashed at about 10:20 a.m. local time on Thursday while landing at Statesville Regional Airport, about 45 miles north of Charlotte.
Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter, Emma, and son, Ryder, were killed in the crash, along with Dennis and Jack Dutton, and Craig Wadsworth.
"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,'" NTSB Board Member Michael Graham said at a news conference on Saturday.
The official did not say who sent or received the text message.
He said investigators are not aware of any other messages from passengers to those on the ground.
A 16-member NTSB team arrived at the crash site on Thursday. The cause of the crash is still being determined.
Their preliminary investigation suggests that the aircraft departed from one runway and attempted to land on another after being airborne for about ten minutes, Graham said. The plane was stable on approach, with its landing lights on according to multiple witnesses, but the aircraft came in low, Graham said.
The NTSB is still not sure who was piloting the plane at the time of the crash, said Graham. The NTSB said previously three people on the aircraft had pilot's licenses.
NTSB investigators located the cockpit voice recorder and sent it to the NTSB lab in Washington, D.C., for analysis. The aircraft did not have a flight data recorder, but it was not required to have one.
A preliminary report on the crash is expected within 30 days, but a final report will take 12-18 months.
"Greg was more than a champion driver, he was a beloved member of the NASCAR community, a fierce competitor, and a friend to so many," NASCAR said in a statement. "His passion for racing, his integrity, and his commitment to fans and fellow competitors alike made a lasting impact on the sport."
A joint statement from the families of those aboard stated they were devastated by the loss of their loved ones.
"Each of them meant everything to us, and their absence leaves an immeasurable void in our lives," the statement said. "We ask for privacy, compassion and understanding as we grieve and begin to process this unimaginable loss."
