US: A tiny aircraft crashed at a airfield in North Carolina, killing seven people

US: According to authorities, a tiny plane crashed at a minor airfield in Statesville, North Carolina, killing seven passengers.

Former NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) driver Greg Biffle, his wife, and two children were among those killed in the collision, according to the police, according to Xinhua news agency.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Cessna C550 aircraft crashed Thursday at around 10:20 a.m. Eastern Time while landing at the airport, causing a significant fire.

The jet left the airport just after 10 a.m., but it later came back and tried to land there, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware.

The medical examiner’s office has to validate the victims’ identities.

During a short press conference on December 18, Statesville City Manager Ron Smith said, “This is still an active event,” referring to the collision as a multi-agency reaction and stating that the inquiry is “evolving.”

First responders were seen on camera racing onto the runway as the plane’s dispersed debris caught fire.

Reporters were informed by Statesville Regional Airport manager John Ferguson that the FAA was assuming control of the accident site. “Until further notice, the airport is closed. Getting the debris off the runway and making it safe again will take some time,” he said.

According to the FAA, the National Transportation Safety Board and the agency are looking into the accident.