Greg Biffle was remembered Thursday for his decorated NASCAR career as well as his humanitarian efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene

Sean Neumann is a reporter at PEOPLE. He has been working at PEOPLE since 2019. His work has previously appeared in Rolling Stone, The New York Times, ESPN, and more.

Greg Biffle, Cristina Biffle and their kids Emma and Ryder.Credit : Greg Biffle/Instagram

Tributes have continued to pour in for the late former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and his family, who died in a fiery plane crash at a North Carolina airport on Thursday morning along with three others.

Biffle, 55, his wife Cristina and his two children, daughter Emma, 14, and son Ryder, 5, were flying to meet a family friend when their plane crashed Thursday, Dec. 18 at Statesville Regional Airport, according to the retired NASCAR driver’s friend Garrett Mitchell.

Mitchell, who is also known as internet personality Cleetus McFarland, said in a social media post that Biffle and his family were on their way to “spend the afternoon with us” when the plane owned by the family crashed around 10:20 a.m. local time.

The FAA confirmed with PEOPLE that a Cessna C550 crashed while landing at the airport in foggy weather. A short while later, North Carolina State Highway Patrol confirmed during an afternoon press conference that seven people died, and a statement from the victims’ families included the names of the three other people who died: Dennis Dutton and his son Jack, and Craig Wadsworth.

Greg Biffle.Brian Lawdermilk/Getty

Soon after Mitchell’s post began to be shared across social media, tributes for the late NASCAR champion and his family mounted online — including from two U.S. congressmen who confirmed the Biffle family had died.

U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson wrote that he was “devastated” over the news, noting Biffle’s widely lauded post-retirement humanitarian efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and other natural disasters around the globe in recent years.

“They were friends who lived their lives focused on helping others,” Hudson wrote. “Greg was a great NASCAR champion who thrilled millions of fans. But he was an extraordinary person as well, and will be remembered for his service to others as much as for his fearlessness on the track. The Biffles flew hundreds of rescue missions in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene.”

The congressman added: “The last time I spoke with Cristina, just a couple of weeks ago, she reached out to ask how she could help with relief efforts in Jamaica. That’s who the Biffles were.”

Rep. Tim Moore, also from North Carolina, added: “Greg was a hero on and off the track, stepping up when Western NC needed help after Hurricane Helene.”

“Absolutely crushed about the loss of Greg Biffle and his beautiful family,” fellow retired NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer wrote on social media. “An unbelievable talent behind the controls of literally anything.  Checked all the boxes…Great guy, helped people in need, and most importantly was a great family man.  Devastated for everyone!”

Chip Ganassi, the CEO of Chip Ganassi Racing, wrote that “Greg Biffle was a Racers Racer, and a Gentleman.”

“RIP my friend,” Ganassi added.

Current NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Kyle Weatherman posted: “RIP BIFF… you and your family will be missed. You did so much for North Carolina and the NASCAR Community.”

Local sports announcer Jake Wilson wrote that he was “devastated and heartbroken” over Biffle’s death, saying the late driver had “helped so many people & made so many people’s lives better” through his humanitarian efforts.

“I’m so glad I got to know you,” Wilson wrote.

Greg Biffle and wife Cristina Biffle.Greg Biffle/Instagram

Biffle, who was named the 2024 Myers Brothers Award for his humanitarian efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene, also received tributes from local meteorologists who noted his efforts throughout the tragedy.

“I’m sure there’s 1,000,000 other posts out there but it cannot be stated how vital Greg Biffle was in organizing the western NC Helene relief effort which was among one of the largest civilian humanitarian missions ever on American soil,” South Carolina meteorologist and storm chaser Chris Jackson wrote. “The world didn’t just lose a NASCAR great today. The world lost a great man and great family that selflessly stepped up and used their resources for the greater good to help total strangers during their greatest time of need.”

WBTW meteorologist Scotty Powell wrote that he felt like he was “punched in the gut,” calling Biffle’s death “a tremendous loss.”“We have lost a champion on and off the track,” Powell wrote. “Greg was a NASCAR champion. Also a huge humanitarian. Greg was a pivotal part in helping rescue, serve and rebuild Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene.”

Powell added: “We are a small knit community. This one hurts. Let us all strive to be like Greg and help those in need. RIP Biff! You will be missed!”