A man considered a “hurricane hero” and his family were killed in a fiery jet crash today in North Carolina. NASCAR Star Greg Biffle and his wife, Cristina, and two children, Emma and Ryder, aged 14 and 5, were among  7 on board a Cessna C550 making its way to the Bahamas via Sarasota, Florida, when it crashed at Statesville Regional Airport in central North Carolina.

Biffle, who began his NASCAR career in 1995, was the first of only three drivers that have won a championship in both the Busch Series and the Craftsman Truck Series, and the sixth of only thirty-six drivers to win a race in each of NASCAR’s three national series. After retirement, Biffle returned to NASCAR with a Truck Series start for Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2019, and for GMS Racing in 2020. Over his racing tenure, he ran 515 NASCAR races, winning 19 and coming in the top ten  17 times.

In the wake of 2024’s Hurricane Helene, Biffle became even more famous for using his personal helicopter to rescue hurricane survivors in North Carolina and deliver much needed supplies. Biffle used the Statesville Regional Airport, where he died today, as his home base during his relief efforts in the greater Charlotte, North Carolina area.

Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09) took to X today to share his sympathies, writing, “I am devastated by the loss of Greg, Cristina, and their children, and my heart is with all who loved them. They were 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. The Biffles flew hundreds of rescue missions in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene. The last time I spoke with Cristina, just a couple of weeks ago, she reached out to ask how she could help with relief efforts in Jamaica. That’s who the Biffles were. Our prayers are with their family, friends, and everyone grieving this unimaginable loss.”