20-Year-Old Co-Pilot Identified After Florida Jet Crash Kills All Nine
Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras obtained her private pilot certificate at 17 and was heading to the Bahamas when the Learjet 60 went down near Palm Beach.
By Layla Fontaine ·
A Learjet 60 crashed in a residential section of Palm Beach County on Sunday afternoon, killing the nine people on board. The aircraft was traveling from Austin, Texas, to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.
Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, 20, has been identified as the co-pilot. She earned her private pilot license in October 2023 at age 17. WPEC CBS 12 reported that she received the certificate before getting her driver's license. Her father introduced her to aviation in 2020, and she trained through the School District of Palm Beach County’s Aviation Academy while attending West Boca Raton High School.
Filgueiras graduated from American Flyers flight school. She posted on social media about her goal to fly commercial airliners or private charter jets. The other eight victims have not been publicly named by the FAA, NTSB, or local officials.
The jet departed Austin and crashed near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North around 12:50 p.m. on November 1. The site is approximately 8 miles from President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. No injuries were reported on the ground.
The crew reported precipitation, moderate turbulence, and icing before the impact. Flight data indicates the aircraft entered a rapid descent. The NTSB is leading the investigation with help from the FAA. Investigators will review the wreckage, maintenance records, weather data, and cockpit communications to determine the probable cause.
