The mother-in-law of retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle shared the final text she received from her daughter moments before a tragic plane crash in North Carolina.
Greg and Cristina Biffle were among seven who died in a plane crash in at a regional airport in Statesville, North Carolina, on Thursday (Dec. 18). The Biffles were reportedly flying to Florida on a birthday trip along with their 5-year-old son Ryder, and Greg’s 14-year-old daughter Emma when the crash occurred. Other passengers included Dennis Dutton and his son Jack, and Craig Wadsworth.
The Cessna C550 that was carrying the passengers departed the Statesville Regional Airport just north of Charlotte around 10 a.m. local time. The aircraft crashed shortly thereafter when it attempted to return and land.
Initial reports indicated that the plane belonged to Biffle, and the identities of those aboard were confirmed a short while later through a joint statement released by the families of the victims.
reg Biffle’s mother-in-law spoke out about the tragedy and revealed the final text she received from her daughter, Cristina.
In a statement to PEOPLE, Cristina Biffle’s mother, Cathy Grossu, shared that moments before the crash, she received a text from her daughter that simply read, “We’re in trouble.”
“She texted me from the plane and she said, ‘We’re in trouble.’ And that was it,” Cathy told the outlet. “So we’re devastated. We’re brokenhearted.”
Cathy added, “To think that they would be killed on a birthday trip, that was just such a fun time for the family. And to see the horrific way that it ended, it’s just, it is so hard to bear. I cannot believe they’re gone.”
The Biffle’s visited Cathy the day before they died, but she doesn’t recall the last words they said to each other, a fact that Cathy said will haunt her.
“I don’t remember what the last words that I said to my daughter or to Greg or to my precious Ryder,” Cathy said. “I don’t remember. I know we hugged, but I don’t remember those last words and that’s going to haunt me. But they were happy.”
Joint Statement from the Biffle, Grossu, Dutton & Lunders Families regarding the plane crash today.
— Marty Smith (@MartySmithESPN) December 18, 2025
Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/jm10YNKlVD
About Greg Biffle
Biffle won more than 50 races across NASCAR’s three circuits over the course of his career. He retired at the end of the 2016 season, but retured for a one-off race for Kyle Busch Motorsports three years later. He took home the trophy during the Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway, a moment that is considered one of the highlights of his career.
Greg was a 2025 NASCAR Hall of Fame nominee, but he will forever be remembered for his humanitarian efforts. Biffle was a skilled pilot who used his talents to provide aid after natural disasters in his home state.
“The Biffles flew hundreds of rescue missions in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene,” U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, the Republican in the NC 9th District, said in a statement. “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.”
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein paid tribute to Biffle, saying, “Beyond his success as a NASCAR driver, Greg Biffle lived a life of courage and compassion and stepped up for western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene. My heart goes out to all those who lost a loved one in this tragic crash.”
The cause of the crash that killed the Biffles is still under investigation.