United States: Seven people die in a private jet crash in North Carolina

A private plane crashed Thursday at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina, killing all seven people on board, according to local authorities. The aircraft, a Cessna C550 business jet, caught fire after hitting the runway, as shown in footage broadcast by U.S. television networks. According to flight tracking data reported by AP News, the jet took off from Statesville before turning back shortly after departure and crashed while attempting to land in cloudy and light drizzle conditions.

Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell confirmed to AFP that "seven people were on board and did not survive the crash." The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) described the incident as a "fatal accident" and announced it was sending a team of investigators to determine the cause of the disaster, which is still unknown. Statesville Airport regularly handles business flights, including those for companies and NASCAR teams.

A former NASCAR driver was among the victims.

Among the victims were former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, 55, his wife Cristina Grossu Biffle, their son Ryder, and the driver's daughter, Emma, according to a joint statement from the families cited by AP News. Three other passengers, all connected to the NASCAR community, also lost their lives. "Each of them meant everything to us, and their absence leaves an immeasurable void in our lives," the statement said, without providing further details about the flight.

Greg Biffle was a well-known figure in American motorsports, with over 50 wins across NASCAR's three main series, including 19 in the Cup Series. He made history by becoming the first driver to win championships in both the Truck Series and the Xfinity Series, and spent the majority of his career with Roush Fenway Racing.