Texas tech entrepreneur Adam Robinson, his wife Helen and their two children were among the nine people killed when a private Learjet 60 crashed in Florida’s Palm Beach County on Sunday. The family was travelling with their nanny and two friends on a flight from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas, according to TMZ. The pilot, Captain Jeff Gregory, and co-pilot Nathalia Gadelha were also killed.
What happened?
The Learjet 60 had been flying for about two hours when it crashed into a residential area in Florida. The aircraft reportedly descended at a rate of 20,000 feet per minute before hitting the ground, killing all nine people on board.
Before the crash, the pilot told air traffic controllers that the plane was experiencing moderate turbulence and passing through precipitation.
Audio from air traffic control captured the pilot shouting, “Mayday! Mayday!”
“We’re going to crash into the ground!” she said.
The pilot later said they were “out of time.” It was the final transmission before the aircraft crashed.
Also Read: Moment business jet crashes in Florida, killing all 9 people on board
Parts of jet broke off before crash
National Transportation Safety Board member Tom Chapman said Monday that the aircraft appeared to have started breaking apart before hitting the ground. He said investigators expect to find some debris scattered far from the crash site.
“We do have some indication that the aircraft was breaking up before impact,” Chapman said. “We may find parts of the aircraft some distance away from the actual impact site.”
Passengers identified
The passengers included Adam Robinson, his wife, Helen Sharp, their children Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2, their nanny, Anita Maria Apellido Cetina, and family friends Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr.
The families of the victims released the following statement:
“With broken hearts, our families share that Adam Robinson and Helen Sharp, their children Emma and Charlie, Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr, and Anita Maria Cetina were among those lost aboard the flight that went down near Greenacres, Florida, on November 1.
Adam and Helen were devoted parents, and Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2, were the light of their lives. Helen and Adam were the love affair that will last forever. Their warmth, generosity and gift for making people feel welcome touched so many lives. Their loss will be felt deeply by all those who loved them and who they loved in return.
Charmi and Rachel were full of joy and adventure. They loved their people fiercely, fully and without hesitation. From the moment they met, they were all in on each other and the life they were building. They are deeply loved, and we will miss them endlessly.
Anita Maria cared for Emma and Charlie with tenderness and devotion, and she was truly part of the family. She showed us a legacy of unconditional love and devotion.
We are deeply grateful to the first responders, investigators, and the Palm Beach County community for their care, and to everyone who has reached out with love. Our hearts are also with the families of the pilots, who are grieving alongside us.
We ask for privacy as we grieve. Details about memorial services will be shared once arrangements are made.”
Who was co-pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras?
Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, 20, was identified as the co-pilot of the aircraft. She obtained her pilot’s licence in 2023 at just 17, while still a student at West Boca Raton Community High School.
According to CBS12, the Palm Beach County School District funded her training through the school’s specialized aviation academy. The program gives students hands-on experience with flight simulators and drones.
“Some people think that it’s weird that I can fly planes, but I can’t drive a car, I mean I can but, a lot of people think it’s funny. I think it’s funny and I now want my (drivers) license really bad,” she told the outlet is 2023.