Nine killed in Florida Learjet 60 crash during thunderstorm

A private Learjet 60 crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday, killing all nine people on board during a heavy thunderstorm. The aircraft was traveling from Austin-Bergstrom international airport in Texas to North Eleuthera airport in the Bahamas when it plummeted from the sky.

Victims Identified

Family members and media outlets have identified the nine victims. The passengers included a family of four: Adam Robinson, 45, a Texas-based technology entrepreneur; his wife Helen Sharp, 40; and their children, Emma, four, and Charlie, two. Also killed were close family friends Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr, and the children’s nanny, Anita Maria Apellido Cetina.

The pilot in charge of the aircraft was identified as 55-year-old Jeff Gregory, described as an experienced aviator from Pennsylvania. The co-pilot was identified by her family as 20-year-old Nathalia Filgueiras. According to her sister, Filgueiras was of Brazilian origin and had obtained her pilot certification at age 18. Her mother, Camila Corteleti, stated that Filgueiras worked for Upper Jets, a private charter firm based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which owned the aircraft.

Crash Details and ATC Audio

The plane crashed at approximately 12:51 p.m. local time near a mobile home park in the city of Greenacres, exploding on impact and leaving a crater. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described the event as "a cataclysmic plane crash … that looked like a missile going down."

Air traffic control (ATC) audio from the final moments of the flight captured the crew reporting weather difficulties. Tom Chapman, head of a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) team, stated that the crew reported encountering "light, clear ice, which was manageable, and also moderate turbulence" while at 35,000 feet. The crew also reported an outside temperature of -47C (-53F).

Shortly after requesting permission to climb to 37,000 feet, the aircraft entered a rapid descent. According to Chapman, the crew transmitted, "We are in an overspeed condition, descending," followed by a mayday call. Audio recordings captured a female crew member stating the plane was descending at more than 20,000 feet per minute and saying, "We’re going to crash into the ground." The recording ended with the woman shouting, "Holy fuck, we’re out of time."

Investigation Status

The NTSB is investigating the cause of the crash. Chapman noted that weather conditions in south Florida on Sunday were "pretty crazy" and stated that the weather would be "a major focus" of the investigation. Investigators are also looking into indications that the aircraft was breaking up before impact.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called the incident a "horrible tragedy" and stated that the Federal Aviation Administration will support the NTSB investigation. While the crash occurred during severe weather that caused diversions at Miami international airport, NTSB staff noted that while they believe a car occupant nearby received a minor leg wound, no one on the ground was reported killed or injured.

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Sources

• theguardian.com: Young co-pilot, 20, named as one of nine victims of deadly Florida plane crash | Florida | The Guardian
• telemundo51.com: Identifican a joven copiloto en la tragedia aérea de Palm Beach – Telemundo Miami (51)
• univision.com: Identifican a pasajeros de avión que se accidentó en Palm Beach | Univision Miami WLTV | Univision

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.