New York, December 19 – A small jet plane crashed at a regional airport in Statesville, North Carolina, United States, resulting in the death of seven people, police confirmed.
According to the news agency Xinhua, the police stated that among the deceased were former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his wife, and their two children.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the Cessna Citation 550 aircraft crashed while attempting to land around 10:20 a.m. on Thursday morning. The plane caught fire immediately after the crash.
Flight tracking website FlightAware showed that the plane took off shortly after 10 a.m. but returned soon after to attempt a landing.
Official identification of the victims is still underway and is being conducted by the medical examination office.
Ron Smith, Statesville’s city manager, said the incident is not yet fully resolved, and multiple agencies are working together for relief and investigation. He added that the inquiry is ongoing.
Video footage from the scene showed emergency responders arriving quickly at the runway where the wreckage was scattered and engulfed in flames.
John Ferguson, manager of Statesville Regional Airport, stated that the FAA has taken over responsibility for the crash site. He added the airport will remain closed until debris is cleared and safety is ensured on the runway.
The FAA confirmed that the investigation will be conducted jointly with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Recently, a similar small plane crash was reported in Mexico’s Central State of Mexico, in San Mateo Atenco. Local authorities confirmed at least six deaths, including the pilot and co-pilot. The private jet had eight passengers and two crew members registered onboard.
– (Crimes Of India)
