Wife of NASCAR Star Texted 'We're in trouble' Minutes Before Plane Crash

Seven people died when a private Cessna C550 twin-engine jet crashed at Statesville Regional Airport outside Charlotte early Thursday, authorities said. The victims included retired NASCAR champion Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, their five-year-old son Ryder and their 14-year-old daughter Emma, along with Dennis Dutton and his son Jack, and Craig Wadsworth.

Minutes before the crash, Cristina Biffle texted her mother with three words: "We’re in trouble," Cathy Grossu confirmed to People. "So we’re devastated. We’re brokenhearted."

Greg Biffle and Cristina Biffle were at Grossu’s home just a day earlier before they headed to Florida for a birthday trip. Greg Biffle, who would have turned 56 next Tuesday, was reportedly certified in March to fly a multi-engine plane. Flight records viewed by local outlets show that Dennis Dutton was cleared to fly such planes, but only with a second-in-command on board, and Jack Dutton recently became a certified single-engine pilot. It was not yet confirmed who piloted the Cessna on Thursday.

To think that they would be killed on a birthday trip, that was just such a fun time for the family, Grossu told People. She described the couple as people who embraced every aspect of life and every moment, saying they touched many people’s lives and that the loss is hard to bear.

Footage from the airport in the moments after the crash showed billowing smoke as responders arrived on the scene. Heartfelt tributes flooded social media from fans and colleagues who described the Biffles as active, generous, and devoted to one another.

Beyond the private tragedy, Greg Biffle was known for helping North Carolinians during disasters, including using his own helicopter last year to assist in Hurricane Helene relief efforts. The crash comes amid renewed attention to private aviation in the region, though investigators have not yet determined who piloted the jet.