STATESVILLE, North Carolina: Retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and his family were among seven people killed when their business jet crashed while trying to return to a North Carolina airport shortly after takeoff.

The Cessna C550 erupted into a large ball of fire after hitting the ground. It had left Statesville Regional Airport, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of Charlotte on 18 December, but crashed soon after while trying to return and land, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said.

Flight records show Biffle was the owner of the company the aircraft was registered to. The cause of the crash wasn't immediately known, nor was the reason for the plane's return to the airport in drizzle and cloudy conditions.

Biffle, his wife, Cristina, and children Ryder, 5, and Emma, 14, were aboard along with Dennis Dutton, his son Jack, and Craig Wadsworth.

Biffle, 55, won more than 50 races across NASCAR's three circuits, including 19 at the Cup Series level. He also won the Trucks Series championship in 2000 and the Xfinity Series title in 2002.

NASCAR said it was devastated by the news.

"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. "His passion for racing, his integrity, and his commitment to fans and fellow competitors alike made a lasting impact on the sport."

The plane left Statesville airport shortly after 10 a.m. and was headed to Florida, according to tracking data from FlightAware.com.

Golfers playing near the airport were stunned to witness the crash, with some dropping to the ground at Lakewood Golf Club as the aircraft flew overhead. Debris was scattered across the ninth hole.

"We were like, ‘Oh my gosh! That's way too low,'" said Joshua Green of Mooresville. "It was scary."

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the incident.

The Cessna aircraft, built in 1981, is a popular mid-sized business jet with a strong safety record, according to aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti. It has two engines and typically carries six to eight passengers.

With 2025 nearly over, the NTSB has investigated 1,331 U.S. crashes this year, involving aircraft ranging from two-seat planes to commercial jets, compared with 1,482 in 2024.

Major aviation disasters worldwide in 2025 include a plane-helicopter collision that killed 67 people in Washington, an Air India crash that killed 260 in India, and a crash in Russia's Far East that claimed 48 lives. In addition, 14 people—11 of them on the ground—died in a UPS cargo plane crash in Kentucky.