SRINAGAR: Seven people were killed after a small business jet crashed while attempting to land at a regional airport in Statesville, in the US state of North Carolina, the Associated Press reported on Friday.
Authorities said the fatalities included former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his wife and their two children, according to a report by Xinhua news agency.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the Cessna C550 aircraft went down at about 10.20 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, triggering a large fire on impact.
Flight-tracking data from FlightAware indicated that the jet had taken off shortly after 10 a.m. but turned back and attempted to land moments later.
Officials said the formal identification of the victims would be completed after confirmation by the medical examiner’s office.
“This remains an active incident,” Statesville City Manager Ron Smith told a brief news conference on December 18, adding that the crash involved a multi-agency response and that investigations were continuing.
Video footage from the scene showed emergency teams rushing to the runway as aircraft debris burned fiercely.
Statesville Regional Airport manager John Ferguson told local media that the FAA had taken control of the crash site. He said the airport had been closed until further notice and would remain shut until the runway was cleared and declared safe.
The FAA said it, along with the National Transportation Safety Board, has launched a detailed investigation into the incident.
