Witnesses painted a frightening scene when describing the fatal plane crash that claimed the lives of NASCAR great Greg Biffle and his family in newly released 911 audio obtained Tuesday by TMZ Sports.
In one clip — shared less than a month after Biffle and his loved ones perished when a private jet he owned crashed at a North Carolina airport — a caller at Statesville Regional Airport detailed a “big fire” breaking out at the end of a runway.
As the dispatcher continued to gather information, the caller tried to provide an estimate of how many people were on board the doomed aircraft.
A separate onlooker, calling from a local golf course, detailed a “huge explosion” stemming from the crash. The dispatcher told the caller not to explore the scene as help was on the way.
Biffle, a NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee, was killed in the crash, along with wife Cristina, 14-year-old daughter Emma, 5-year-old son Ryder and three others.
He was 55 years old.
“NASCAR is devastated by the tragic loss of Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, son Ryder, Craig Wadsworth and Dennis and Jack Dutton in a fatal plane crash,” NASCAR said in a December statement.
“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. His passion for racing, his integrity, and his commitment to fans and fellow competitors alike made a lasting impact on the sport.
“… Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to Greg’s entire family, friends, and all who were touched by his life.”
New details about the flight have since emerged, with People reporting that Cristina texted her mom, “We’re in trouble,” before the crash.
A separate report noted the Cessna C550 jet was airborne for just seven minutes and was “incredibly close” to making a safe emergency landing prior to the explosion.
Biffle has been recognized by NASCAR as one of its top 75 drivers in history. He won 54 races throughout the racing giant’s three national circuits, according to the Associated Press.
Daughter Emma was honored in a memorial service Sunday.
