A corporate jet crash during landing procedures at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina has resulted in multiple confirmed fatalities, according to official statements released on Thursday. The tragic incident occurred at approximately 10:15 AM local time (15:15 GMT) when the Cessna C550 aircraft crashed on the eastern extremity of the runway.
Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell formally acknowledged the fatalities in statements to The Associated Press while declining to specify the exact number of casualties. Airport Director John Ferguson provided harrowing details of the scene, describing how the aircraft was already fully engulfed in flames upon his arrival at the crash site.
Aviation registration records indicate the aircraft was registered to a private corporation affiliated with Greg Biffle, a retired NASCAR champion, as reported by WBTV, a CBS network affiliate. The ill-fated jet had only been airborne for approximately nine minutes after taking off at 10:06 AM local time before the catastrophic landing attempt.
The Federal Aviation Administration has initiated a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident. Meanwhile, Statesville Airport will remain closed indefinitely as emergency crews work to clear debris from the primary runway. During a press conference, officials declined to provide specific details regarding the number of passengers aboard or the exact casualty count.
Statesville Regional Airport (KSVH), municipally owned by the City of Statesville located approximately 45 minutes north of Charlotte, serves as an important aviation facility for numerous Fortune 500 companies and several professional NASCAR racing teams. The incident represents one of the most significant aviation tragedies to occur at the regional transportation hub in recent years.