Newly released 911 emergency calls paint a harrowing picture of the moments following the December plane crash that claimed the lives of former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his family, and three others.
TMZ Sports obtained and published the audio from five frantic 911 calls, capturing witnesses’ panicked reactions as they described a massive explosion and fireball after Biffle’s private Cessna C550 business jet crashed shortly after takeoff from Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina.
One caller, a golfer at the nearby Lakewood Golf Course, told dispatchers what they had just witnessed.
“We just had a plane fly over our heads and crash into the tree line and a huge explosion near the runway out here,” the concerned citizen described.
More 911 Calls Released from Greg Biffle Crash
An airport worker urgently reported the need to shut down the airport, describing thick black smoke and flames engulfing Greg Biffle’s aircraft.
“Pretty good-sized fireball,” another caller said. “Whoever was on the plane probably did not make it.”
“And you think it’s obvious that no one is alive,” the dispatcher inquired.
“Yeah. There’s no way they could’ve survived it.”
Security camera footage referenced in reports showed the plane in flames upon impact with the ground.
BREAKING: Dramatic footage shows moment plane carrying NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and his family crashes at Statesville Regional Airport, North Carolina — NTD News/WAAY 31 pic.twitter.com/gllk4O54Me
— Rapid Report (@RapidReport2025) December 18, 2025
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Reigniting Grief
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the cause of the crash, which occurred as the plane attempted an emergency return to the runway shortly after departure. Speculation has circulated about a possible unsecured cargo door, though none of the 911 callers mentioned observing such an issue.
Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, their 5-year-old son Ryder, and 14-year-old daughter Emma were killed in the crash, along with experienced pilots Dennis Dutton and his son Jack, and Craig Wadsworth.
The release of the audio has reignited grief in the NASCAR community, where Biffle was remembered not only as a fierce competitor but also for his humanitarian efforts, including rescue missions in western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene.
Biffle is a prominent figure in NASCAR history. The Vancouver, Washington native won the NASCAR Truck Series championship in 2000 and the Xfinity Series title in 2002, becoming the first driver to claim championships in both series.
In the Cup Series, he recorded 19 victories over 515 starts from 2002 to 2016, with a career-best second-place finish in the 2005 standings. Biffle, named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers, had been semi-retired in recent years.