The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
Dad of co-pilot killed in Palm Beach jet crash says losing daughter "like having the heart torn from my chest"
The father of the co-pilot who died along with eight others when her Learjet crashed in Florida feels immense pride when he listens to his daughter's heartbreaking final radio transmissions to try to figure out why it plunged from the sky.
A father of the co-pilot who died in the Florida Learjet crash says he has listened to his daughter's final radio transmissions many times, expressing pride in how she faced the crisis.
Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras was the co-pilot on a flight from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas when the Learjet crashed near Greenacres, Florida, bursting into a fireball. Investigators noted that parts of the aircraft appeared to have broken off before the impact.
In a final air traffic control exchange, Nathalia reported ice buildup on the aircraft as it encountered a thunderstorm, describing an overspeed descent of 20,000 feet per minute as turbulence tossed the jet. Family and aviation-safety experts have highlighted her calm updates during the deteriorating situation.
The family has faced online criticism over Nathalia’s experience level, noting she had more than 1,300 flight hours and had completed extensive training for her commercial pilot’s license. Her father and a lawyer described her as highly qualified and praised her performance, while the investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board continues to determine the cause.
The victims included technology entrepreneur Adam Robinson and his family, among others. The crash remains under investigation, with authorities assessing what caused the Learjet to accelerate beyond its design limits and for tail sections to be found miles from the wreck.