On December 18, 2025, the aviation world was rocked by a devastating tragedy when a Cessna Citation C550 private jet crashed shortly after takeoff from Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina. The accident claimed the lives of all seven people on board, including retired NASCAR champion Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina Grossu Biffle, their young son Ryder, Greg’s daughter Emma from a previous marriage, and three close friends: Dennis Dutton, his son Jack, and Craig Wadsworth. As the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) continues its investigation, chilling details have emerged about the frantic final minutes inside the cabin—particularly a desperate text message sent by Cristina Biffle to her mother, alerting her to the unfolding emergency.

The flight was intended as a joyful family getaway, heading toward Sarasota, Florida, en route to a celebratory trip in the Bahamas. The group had gathered for what promised to be a relaxing holiday escape, filled with sunshine and quality time. Greg Biffle, a licensed pilot with extensive flying experience—including humanitarian missions using his helicopter to aid victims of Hurricane Helene in 2024—was among three qualified pilots on board. The plane, registered to Biffle’s company GB Aviation Leasing LLC, took off around 10:05 a.m. under overcast skies with low ceilings and drizzle, conditions that investigators are examining closely.

What happened next unfolded in a matter of minutes, turning a routine departure into catastrophe. Flight tracking data shows the aircraft climbed normally before making a left turn westward, followed by another turn back toward the airport. Approximately 10 minutes after takeoff, the jet attempted an emergency return but never reached the runway. It struck approach lighting structures, trees, and a perimeter fence before crashing short of the threshold and erupting into flames. The debris field was extensive, with the wreckage scattered across a large area, complicating initial recovery efforts.

No mayday call was transmitted from the cockpit, according to preliminary findings. However, the most haunting insight into the cabin’s final moments came from a brief but desperate communication from one of the passengers. Cristina Biffle, seated in the cabin with her family and friends, managed to send a text message to her mother, Cathy Grossu, just as the situation deteriorated.

According to Grossu, who spoke through tears in interviews, her daughter texted: “We’re in trouble.” In some accounts, it was followed by “emergency landing.” Grossu immediately responded, asking what was wrong with the plane, but received no reply—only an automatic SOS crash detection alert from Cristina’s iPhone, signaling impact.

The NTSB confirmed awareness of this single text—”emergency landing”—sent to a family member, emphasizing it as the only known outbound communication from the aircraft besides routine air traffic control exchanges. Investigators recovered the cockpit voice recorder (often called the “black box”) intact, which could provide crucial audio from the pilots’ final discussions. Three individuals on board held pilot licenses—Biffle, Dennis Dutton, and possibly another—leaving open the question of who was at the controls during the critical return attempt.

The exact trigger for the emergency remains under intense scrutiny. Weather played a role, with low visibility and rain reported, potentially contributing to spatial disorientation or difficulty aligning for landing. Mechanical issues, such as engine problems, are also being explored, given the plane’s age (manufactured in 1981) and the engines produced by Pratt & Whitney. Maintenance records are being reviewed meticulously. Witnesses described the aircraft flying unusually low on approach, consistent with a struggled return.

Inside the cabin during those fateful 60 seconds—or perhaps the full 10 minutes of distress—the atmosphere must have shifted from casual excitement to mounting alarm. Passengers likely felt initial vibrations or heard unusual engine noises prompting the turnaround decision. As the pilots worked to diagnose and respond, tension would have built rapidly. Cristina’s quick thinking to text her mother suggests a moment of clarity amid fear: a need to alert loved ones, perhaps sensing the gravity.

Her message—”We’re in trouble”—captures the raw human element, a wife’s instinct to reach out one last time. Followed by the automated crash alert, it paints a picture of sudden, overwhelming crisis. The children—5-year-old Ryder and 14-year-old Emma—were aboard, adding unimaginable heartbreak. Friends Dennis and Jack Dutton, along with Craig Wadsworth, shared the terror of those final moments.

The crash’s aftermath was swift and somber. Emergency crews battled intense flames, but no survivors emerged. Identification proceeded carefully, with families notified privately before public confirmation. Tributes poured in from the NASCAR community, honoring Biffle as a fierce competitor and generous humanitarian. His post-racing efforts, flying aid to disaster zones, underscored his character.

As the NTSB probes deeper—expecting a preliminary report within 30 days and a full analysis in 12-18 months—the text from Cristina serves as a poignant window into the cabin’s despair. It humanizes the statistics, reminding us of lives full of promise cut short. A family vacation turned tragedy, marked by a mother’s final words of warning.

In the quiet reflection that follows such losses, Cristina’s message endures as a testament to love’s urgency—even in the face of impending doom.