Multiple people were killed Thursday after a small aircraft crashed at Statesville Regional Airport in Iredell County, North Carolina, authorities confirmed.
According to the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office, the crash occurred at approximately 10:15 a.m. involving a Cessna C550 aircraft. Officials said the plane went down on the runway shortly after takeoff.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that six people were on board the aircraft at the time of the crash. Authorities have not yet said whether there were any survivors.
Images from the scene showed the aircraft engulfed in flames following impact. Emergency crews from multiple agencies responded, including local law enforcement, airport personnel, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, and federal aviation officials.
Flight tracking data indicated the Cessna 550 departed from Statesville Regional Airport around 10:06 a.m. Business records show the aircraft is owned by a private North Carolina company that is affiliated with retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle. Officials have not suggested whether the ownership is connected to the cause of the crash.
Statesville Regional Airport is a city-owned facility that serves corporate aviation, including flights for Fortune 500 companies and NASCAR teams. The airport is located near the Interstate 77 and Interstate 40 interchange, roughly 10 minutes from downtown Statesville.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are expected to lead the investigation into what caused the crash. Authorities said more information will be released as it becomes available.