Just moments before Thursday’s fatal plane crash, Cristina Biffle, the wife of retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, sent a haunting text to her mother.
Speaking with People, Cristina’s mother, Cathy Grossu, shared that her daughter knew that something had gone wrong during the flight which resulted in the deaths of seven people on Thursday morning at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina.
Grossu told the outlet that Cristina had texted her “We’re in trouble” while on the flight.
“She texted me from the plane and she said, ‘We’re in trouble.’ And that was it,” Grossu told the outlet. “So we’re devastated. We’re brokenhearted.”
The Biffles along with their 14-year-old daughter Emma and 5-year-old son Ryder were killed in the crash.
Craig Wadsworth, Dennis Dutton and Dutton’s son, Jack, also were identified as victims.
How the crash happened
The incident occurred Thursday just before 10:30 a.m. when the Cessna C500 crashed and burst into flames as it attempted to land.
According to virtual flight log data, the plane took off from Statesville airport and “immediately turned around and tried to land,” crashing on its attempt.
Grossu called the situation “hard to bear” and said she couldn’t “believe they’re gone.”
She also told People that she couldn’t remember what the last words were that she shared with the family but “they were happy.”
According to reports, the plane was headed to Florida for a birthday trip, with Greg Biffle set to turn 56 on Tuesday.
Garrett Mitchell, a family friend and an auto racing social media personality, first posted on Facebook that the Biffle family were onboard the plane when it crashed.
“Unfortunately, I can confirm Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, and son Ryder were on that plane … because they were on their way to spend the afternoon with us,” Mitchell, who posts under the pseudonym Cleetus McFarland, posted on Facebook. “We are devastated. I’m so sorry to share this.”
Biffle known as regional hero
Biffle is a registered pilot and used his helicopter to take supplies to Western North Carolina in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in 2024.
He also became known for philanthropy, which focused on animal welfare through his Greg Biffle Foundation.
Congressman Richard Hudson called the Biffles “friends who lived their lives focused on helping others.”
“Greg was a great NASCAR champion who thrilled millions of fans. But he was an extraordinary person as well, and will be remembered for his service to others as much as for his fearlessness on the track,” Hudson posted on X.
“The Biffles flew hundreds of rescue missions in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene.”
Grossu also shared that one of her final conversations with Cristina was about some Santa letters she was sending to families in need.
“She said, ‘Mom, can you go pick up the last 17 letters that are at Staples? I want to get them in the mail before I get on the plane tomorrow,’” she told the outlet. “So I ran over and got ’em and took them to their house, and when they got home last night, she put them in envelopes and finished them all up to get them off to those last 17 families to bring joy to them, and that would be the last thing that she would’ve done.”
Biffle, who retired in 2022 after a brief comeback attempt, won 19 Cup Series races during his 20-year career. He was named one of the sport’s 75 greatest drivers in 2023.
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 in a statement on X. “His passion for racing, his integrity, and his commitment to fans and fellow competitors alike made a lasting impact on the sport.”