Cristina Grossu Biffle’s Final Text to Her Mother Before Fatal Plane Crash in North Carolina

The wife of retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle sent a brief and alarming text message to her mother just minutes before a private plane crash in North Carolina that killed seven people, according to an interview published by People magazine.

Cristina Grossu Biffle, 35, texted her mother, Cathy Grossu, moments before the aircraft went down near Statesville Regional Airport on Thursday morning, December 18. The message read simply: “We’re in trouble.”

“That was it,” Grossu told People. “So we’re devastated. We’re brokenhearted.”

What Authorities Say Happened

According to reports, the group was traveling aboard a Cessna Citation C550 that had taken off from Statesville and attempted to return to the airport shortly afterward. The aircraft was reportedly en route to Florida for a family birthday trip when the pilot sought an emergency landing.

The crash occurred at approximately 10:15 a.m., killing all seven people on board. Authorities have not yet released an official cause.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, examining flight data, pilot actions, weather conditions, maintenance records, and wreckage. Investigators have indicated the aircraft may have circled back shortly after takeoff, suggesting a possible mechanical issue, though no conclusions have been reached.

Victims Identified in Reports

Family statements and media reports said those killed included:

• Cristina Grossu Biffle

• Her 5-year-old son, Ryder

• Emma, 14, Greg Biffle’s daughter from a previous relationship

• Family friend Craig Wadsworth

• Dennis Dutton and his son Jack Dutton

Officials have not publicly confirmed who was piloting the aircraft.

A Mother’s Final Memories

Grossu said she had seen her daughter, Greg Biffle, and Ryder just hours before the flight. While she remembers hugging them goodbye, she said the last words exchanged now weigh heavily on her.

“I don’t remember what the last words were,” she said. “And that’s going to haunt me. But they were happy.”

The airport was temporarily closed following the crash due to debris, and authorities continue to ask for patience as the investigation moves forward.