A private Learjet 60 travelling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas crashed near Greenacres, Florida, on Nov. 1, killing all nine people on board. Before the crash, the crew reported intense weather conditions, including ice, turbulence and significant altitude loss.
Air traffic control recordings captured the co-pilot, Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, making urgent attempts to communicate the aircraft’s condition before it plunged to the ground near West Palm Beach. The impact left a large crater and scattered debris in the area. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis called the impact “cataclysmic,” saying that “it looked like a missile” hit the road.
In the final minutes, co-pilot Filgueiras was heard providing constant reports on the aircraft’s conditions during and before its descent.
“We’re managing the ice, but it is moderate turbulence,” she said before reporting, in a more panicked tone, “Mayday, mayday, we’re descending 10,000 feet per minute […] declare an emergency, 722 Bravo Delta. We are in an overspeed condition descending 20,000 feet per minute.”
The final communication made by Filgueiras stated, “we’re going to crash into the ground, 722 Bravo Delta.” She did not respond to further attempts by air traffic control, who tried reaching her, saying “November 2 Bravo Delta, I’m here with you. Talk to me.”
All nine people on board, which included the two pilots and seven passengers, died. The fatalities included the pilot, Jeffrey Gregory, age 55; co-pilot Filgueiras, age 20; and passengers Adam Robinson, age 45; his wife, Helen Sharp, age 40; their children, Emma, age 4, and Charles, age 2; nanny Ana Maria Ramirez Cetina, age 24; and family friends Rachael Reed, age 38, and Rowan “Charmi” Fehr Toews, age 38.
Gregory was an experienced pilot and former East Coast Jets employee. Members of his community remembered him as a devoted family man. A statement from East Coast Jets expressed sadness over his death and offered condolences to his family, as well as to the loved ones of the other crew member and passengers.
Co-pilot Filgueiras leaves behind an impressive aviation legacy. She earned her private pilot certificate at 17 while attending West Boca Raton Community High School, attracting media attention for obtaining her pilot’s licence before her driver’s licence.
Her father, Allan Filgueiras, taught her to fly and has publicly defended his daughter following the crash. “She made me so proud,” fighting back tears, he said, “she showed me what it is to be a hero.”
Her final radio communications drew praise from her father and from other observers online, who commended her ability to continue reporting the aircraft’s condition so calmly despite the condition she was in.
“It was pretty incredible, really, that she could continue to keep calling out those altitude, those speed readings and keep the air traffic controller informed about what was happening on board the aircraft,” aviation writer Robyn Ironside said during an appearance on Claire Harvey’s YouTube channel.
Despite her qualifications going into the flight, some social media users have blamed Filgueiras for the crash, arguing that her age and gender were contributing factors.
“A male pilot would’ve known better,” and “This is what happens when a woman is captain,” some commentators on Instagram said.
Other social media users quickly pushed back against the criticism, defending Filgueiras’ qualifications and condemning the backlash directed at her following her death. One user wrote, “I’m absolutely appalled and disgusted by the comments directed at 20-year-old Nathalia Filgueiras.” Another user reposted a video by another critic, highlighting the sexist implications of his comments.
To determine the true cause of the crash, investigators are examining the aircraft’s final moments, including reports of icing, moderate turbulence and precipitation. The crew had reported altitude fluctuations of approximately 700 feet before requesting permission to climb to a higher altitude. The aircraft began descending shortly afterwards.
Aviation safety expert, Anthony Brickhouse, spoke to People, describing the crash as a “smoking hole” accident in a video. The term refers to a high-angle, high-velocity impact that can leave a crater and scatter debris over a wide area.
National Transportation Safety Board member Tom Chapman said investigators had found evidence that the aircraft may have begun breaking apart before hitting the ground. Pieces of the aircraft were discovered as far as 3.8 miles from where it crashed.
DeWitt Ingram of the ParAvion Group Council explained on a video on CBC that if the aircraft’s tail had separated during flight, the pilots may have lost the ability to control its pitch and recover from the dive.
However, at the time of writing, investigators have not confirmed what caused the aircraft to descend or if weather, mechanical issues or other factors contributed to the crash. They are continuing to investigate the wreckage distribution and the crew’s final communications to reconstruct the flight. Authorities have also asked the public not to disturb debris that could provide evidence.
A preliminary report is expected in the coming weeks, and determining the crash’s probable cause could take considerably longer. Until investigators complete that work, the reason the Learjet fell from the sky remains unknown.