Father of young co-pilot of Learjet speaks out after deadly crash

A Palm Beach County Learjet crash near Greenacres has been reported as involving a Learjet 60 that was operating from Austin, Texas toward the Bahamas at the time of the disaster. NBC 6 South Florida and CBS News Miami identify Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras as the co-pilot, a 20-year-old, and Jeffrey Gregory as the captain who were among the nine people killed in the crash, with seven passengers also confirmed across sources. The scene was described as near a busy roadway in Palm Beach County, with responders encountering a broad debris field and a post-crash fire that complicated initial recovery efforts.

Emergency responders faced a challenging response as wreckage was spread across a wide area, including tail elevator debris found miles from the main impact site. Some reports cited debris as far as about 3.8 miles away, and investigators noted the elevator had been broken into three pieces. Authorities have said investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board are examining multiple lines of inquiry, including whether there was a loss of control prior to impact or an in-flight breakup, though a final cause had not been determined at the time of reporting.

Initial flight information indicates the Learjet departed Austin, Texas and was en route to the Bahamas when it went down near Greenacres, generating a post-crash fire and a large debris field. Air traffic personnel were cited as noting icing and severe turbulence before a mayday call, with investigators considering whether those conditions contributed to the crash. No definitive cause had been established in the material available.

The passenger and crew roster identified by CBS News Miami and PBS, and echoed by NBC 6 South Florida and other outlets, includes two crew members—the co-pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras and captain Jeffrey Gregory—and seven passengers. Named individuals appearing across sources include Adam Robinson, Helen Sharp, their children Emma and Charlie, their nanny Ana Maria Ramirez Cetina, and friends Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr Toews. All outlets consistently report nine fatalities and have not provided an independently verified official victim list beyond these identifications in the cited material.

NBC 6 South Florida’s reporting emphasizes the human dimension: the father of the co-pilot has spoken publicly, describing pride in his daughter’s handling of the crisis and stating that he has repeatedly listened to her final radio transmissions. NBC News coverage likewise highlights the father’s remarks, noting that he is a fellow pilot who helped his daughter learn to fly and that investigators have sent personnel to South Florida to advance the inquiry, including recovery of engine parts from one of the Learjet’s engines as part of the ongoing investigation.

WPBF reports that Nathalia Filgueiras’ father spoke publicly at a Coral Gables news conference, with attorneys speaking on behalf of the family as the investigation continues. The outlet confirms nine fatalities and describes the aircraft as a Learjet involved in the Palm Beach County crash, with authorities pursuing answers about the descent and crash. WFLA’s coverage, cited by SmartMarty Sky, similarly centers on the father’s statements and the emotional impact on families and the aviation community, reiterating the nine-fatality figure without additional technical detail in the supplied material.

WPLG Local 10 consolidates reporting from multiple outlets and reiterates the Learjet 60's involvement, the location near Greenacres in Palm Beach County, and the departure from Austin toward the Bahamas. The piece notes the post-crash fire and broad debris field, with tail debris located miles from the main site and the elevator broken into three pieces, while citing NTSB investigators’ emphasis on breakup evidence informing inquiries about loss of control prior to impact. The roster of crew and passengers matches other outlets, with nine fatalities reported.

NBC News’ broader coverage identifies Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras as a 20-year-old co-pilot per family statements, and mentions the father, Allan Filgueiras, as a pilot who helped his daughter learn to fly. The report notes investigators have recovered parts from one of the Learjet 60’s engines and that authorities have sent investigators to South Florida, with site assessment including a crater and surrounding evidence. The NBC News piece also notes that the remaining seven victims are identified by families and that investigators are coordinating with families to confirm identities as part of ongoing verification.

According to the NBC 6 South Florida and CBS News Miami reporting, the crash site is described as near a busy roadway with a post-crash fire and a debris field that required a significant response from emergency services. The flight’s origin and destination are cited as Austin to the Bahamas, and the aircraft involved is consistently identified as a Learjet 60 in the collective reporting. Investigators from the NTSB are evaluating multiple possible scenarios, including loss of control and in-flight breakup, but a final determination was not provided in the material.