A corporate jet crashed during landing at a busy regional airport in North Carolina on Thursday morning, erupting in a massive fire and resulting in multiple fatalities, authorities have confirmed.
Details of the Crash
The Federal Aviation Administration reported that a Cessna C550 business jet went down while attempting to land at Statesville Regional Airport shortly after 10 a.m. on Thursday, December 18, 2025. The airport is located approximately 45 miles (72 kilometres) north of Charlotte.
Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell addressed the media, stating, "I can confirm there were fatalities," though he did not disclose the exact number of victims. The crash site was at the end of one of the airport's runways.
Airport Closure and Response
Airport director John Ferguson announced that the facility is closed until further notice as emergency crews work at the scene. "It will take some time to get the debris off the runway," Ferguson told reporters, indicating a prolonged closure.
Video footage from local broadcaster WSOC-TV showed first responders racing onto the tarmac as intense flames consumed wreckage scattered across the area. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FAA have launched investigations into the cause of the crash. Weather conditions at the time included drizzle and cloud cover, according to AccuWeather.
Significance of the Airport
Statesville Regional Airport is a significant hub for corporate aviation in the region. Its website highlights that it provides facilities for Fortune 500 companies and several NASCAR teams, underscoring its role in high-profile business and sports logistics. The tragic incident has disrupted operations for these major entities.
The investigation into this fatal aviation accident is now underway, with federal authorities working to determine what led to the crash of the Cessna C550 on what began as a routine Thursday morning landing.
