Dad of 20-year-old co-pilot in Florida Learjet crash says her final radio calls showed 'she's tough'

The father of Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, a 20-year-old co-pilot who died in a Florida Learjet crash, spoke at a news conference about listening to his daughter’s final radio transmissions. Allan Filgueiras, himself a pilot, described hearing her calm reports during the emergency and expressed pride in how she handled the crisis.

In her final conversation with air traffic control, Nathalia is heard reporting ice buildup on the aircraft as it encountered a thunderstorm and turbulence. The communications capture a rapid sequence as the Learjet descended with significant altitude loss during the severity of the weather event.

A note of the emergency was issued as the aircraft’s situation deteriorated, with Nathalia saying, “Declare an emergency 722-Bravo-Delta. We are in an overspeed condition descending 20,000 feet per minute.” Her father highlighted that she continued to provide updates even as the aircraft’s fate became clear.

The family and aviation-safety experts have discussed online reactions to Nathalia’s qualifications, stressing that she had more than 1,300 flight hours and completed extensive training for her commercial pilot license. Her father’s news conference was described by her attorney as an effort to preserve her memory and reputation.

The National Transportation Safety Board is conducting its investigation, and investigators have not yet determined a cause. Preliminary reports note that the Learjet fell from altitude as pieces of the tail were found miles away from the crash site.

The victims included multiple members of a family, with technology entrepreneur Adam Robinson, his wife Helen Sharp, their two young children, and their nanny among those confirmed killed. The Learjet’s captain, aged 55, was at the controls as the aircraft descended.