Nathalia Filgueiras Dies in Florida Learjet 60 Crash

For Allan Filgueiras, flying was more than a profession or personal interest. It was the passion that brought him closer to his daughter, Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras. He introduced her to Aviation when she was just 12 years old, taking her on flights while he learned to become a pilot. Eight years later, she had become a qualified commercial pilot and flight instructor.

That shared passion ended in tragedy when Nathalia, 20, died in the crash of a Learjet 60 in South Florida. She was serving as the aircraft’s first officer when the jet plunged approximately 35,000 feet towards a roadway on Sunday. All nine people aboard, including both pilots and seven passengers, were killed.

Speaking to CNN on Friday, Allan struggled to hold back tears as he recalled the daughter who had followed him into the cockpit and eventually become an accomplished pilot in her own right.

“She’s my soulmate,” he told CNN. “Having her to talk about aviation. Now, I feel like my life is missing.”

The father said he wanted people to remember Nathalia for her dedication to flying, her abilities as a pilot and the happiness she found in the profession. As investigators work to establish what caused the aircraft to crash, her family has also called for her professional reputation to be respected.

Nathalia Filgueiras Started Flying at 12 and Earned Her Pilot’s Licence at 17

Nathalia’s interest in aviation began during childhood. Her father started learning to fly when she was around 12, and he would take her along on flights with an instructor aboard. Watching aircraft operations from the cockpit helped introduce her to the profession that would eventually define her career.

Her interest quickly developed into a clear ambition. Allan recalled that his daughter once told him there was nothing else she wanted to do with her life apart from flying.

He encouraged her to pursue that goal, telling her that determination could help her achieve what she wanted. He promised to support her journey towards becoming the pilot she dreamed of being.

Nathalia earned her private pilot’s licence at just 17, before obtaining her driver’s licence. Her family described her as someone who enjoyed doing something different from her peers and was particularly excited about learning to fly.

In a 2023 interview with CNN affiliate WPEC, she spoke about the unusual order in which she had acquired her licences.

“Some people think that it’s, like, weird because I can fly planes, but I can’t drive a car,” she said, adding that she found the contrast amusing.

According to her family, the school district helped pay for her private pilot training. She later graduated from American Flyers, an established aviation training organisation in the United States.

Her qualifications continued to expand as she gained experience. Federal Aviation Administration records showed that she held commercial pilot and flight instructor licences and had the ratings required to operate larger, more complex aircraft.

By the time of the crash, she was qualified to serve as a first officer aboard the Learjet 60. Her father described that achievement as the realisation of a dream she had pursued since childhood.

He recalled her excitement when she realised she was being paid to do the work she loved. At a news conference, he remembered her saying: “I would pay for this, but they’re actually paying me.”

Father and Daughter Eventually Switched Roles in the Cockpit

Flying remained at the centre of Allan and Nathalia’s relationship as she developed her professional skills. The father said aviation was the subject they most enjoyed discussing whenever they spent time together.

Allan obtained his private pilot certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration in 2021. He was qualified to fly single-engine aircraft and held an instrument rating, which allows pilots to operate aircraft using flight instruments when visibility is limited or outside visual references are unavailable.

As Nathalia advanced, the relationship between the two pilots gradually changed. The daughter who had once accompanied her father as a young passenger eventually became the more experienced pilot and began teaching him.

She conducted training exercises designed to help Allan respond to difficult situations in the cockpit. These included simulated instrument-panel failures and aircraft upset situations, in which pilots must recover control after an unexpected change in the aircraft’s attitude or flight path.

Allan recalled that his daughter would deliberately create challenging training scenarios and then assess his response. If she believed he could perform better, she would ask him to repeat the exercise.

“So I became a student, and she became an instructor to keep me sharp and safe,” he told CNN.

The experience was particularly meaningful for Allan because he had introduced Nathalia to flying. Seeing her develop into an instructor who could teach him advanced skills was a source of pride.

He said he intends to continue flying despite the loss. For him, every future flight will serve as a connection to his daughter and the passion they shared.

“I will continue her legacy,” he said. “Each time that I’m gonna be flying, I’m gonna be connecting with her. I want to make her proud.”

All Nine People Aboard the Learjet 60 Were Killed

The Learjet 60 was travelling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas when it crashed in South Florida. Nathalia was serving as co-pilot, while Jeff Gregory was the pilot in command.

The seven passengers who died were identified as technology entrepreneur Adam Robinson and Helen Sharp; their two children, Emma and Charlie; caregiver Anita Maria Cetina; and Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr.

Video recorded by a vehicle’s dashboard camera captured the aircraft’s rapid descent and impact. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described the plane’s fall as resembling a missile travelling towards the ground.

The crash left a crater in a roadway, where investigators began recovering aircraft debris and searching for evidence that could explain the accident. Among the components recovered was part of the jet’s engine.

The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation. Its work includes examining the aircraft, maintenance history, weather conditions, flight data and communications between the pilots and air traffic controllers.

The precise cause of the crash has not been established. Investigators have cautioned that several factors may have contributed, and it would be premature to attribute the accident to weather or a mechanical failure before the evidence is analysed.

Father Remembers Their Final Day Together

One of the most painful memories for Allan is the afternoon he spent with Nathalia just four days before the crash. The two went to a boat show and had lunch together, enjoying time away from their flying schedules.

Allan told CNN that he had described the afternoon as one of the best days of his life because he was able to spend it with his daughter.

He also recalled experiencing an unusual moment of sadness after they said goodbye. He said he had generally considered himself a happy person, but briefly felt an emotion he could not explain.

“I can’t believe that was the last day that I spent with her,” he said.

The memory has become particularly difficult because the day appeared ordinary at the time. There was no indication that it would be their final opportunity to spend an afternoon together.

Nathalia’s mother, Camila Gadelha Corteleti, told CNN Brasil that her daughter was born in Florida and came from a Brazilian family. She described Nathalia as responsible, hardworking and a good person.

Her stepfather, Thiago Corteleti, also highlighted how unusual her achievements were for someone her age. She had earned her pilot’s licence before obtaining a driving licence, reflecting how early she had committed herself to aviation.

Father Says Family Wants to Protect Nathalia’s Reputation

At Friday’s news conference, Allan appeared alongside his attorney, Stuart Grossman, to speak publicly about his daughter’s life and the circumstances surrounding the crash.

The family’s lawyer said the purpose of the appearance was to preserve Nathalia’s memory and professional reputation while the official investigation continued.

Grossman stressed that the family was not making accusations against any individual or organisation at this stage. He said they intended to wait for the government’s findings before asking their own experts to examine the evidence.

“We’re not making allegations against anybody at this time,” Grossman said.

He added that the family wanted investigators to be allowed to complete their work without interference. Once the government had uncovered the relevant information, the family would review the findings with independent specialists.

The approach reflects the importance of avoiding premature conclusions in an aviation accident investigation. A crash involving a business jet can involve complex interactions between weather, aircraft systems, maintenance, flight operations and human decision-making.

For Allan, the immediate priority is also to ensure that his daughter’s professional achievements are not overshadowed by speculation about the accident. He wants her remembered as a young pilot who worked hard to reach the cockpit and took pride in her responsibilities.

What Happened During the Learjet’s Final Minutes?

Flight communications released after the accident provide an account of the aircraft’s final minutes. The two pilots had been navigating challenging weather conditions during the flight from Texas towards the Bahamas.

While the jet was near Florida’s Gulf Coast, an air traffic controller warned the crew that their requested turn towards the Bahamas could take them close to a large thunderstorm system.

The controller described significant precipitation ahead of the aircraft, warning that the storm extended across a wide area. The pilots subsequently flew south to navigate around the weather before receiving clearance to turn east.

Air traffic control told the crew they could adjust their route as necessary to avoid the worst conditions.

When Nathalia later contacted a controller covering the West Palm Beach area, she reported turbulence that was causing the aircraft to move vertically by as much as 700 feet. She also reported that light icing was developing on the aircraft.

She asked the controller to let the crew know if better flying conditions were available ahead.

The controller responded that conditions were expected to improve in the airspace ahead. Nathalia later reported precipitation and requested permission to climb to 37,000 feet. The controller approved the request.

Less than 30 seconds later, the situation deteriorated rapidly. Nathalia reported that the aircraft was descending at an alarming rate.

“We’re descending 8,000 – mayday, mayday – we’re descending 10,000 feet per minute,” she said in the recorded transmission.

As the aircraft continued to lose altitude, she delivered the final message heard on the recording:

“We’re out of time.”

The recording has become one of the most distressing elements of the accident because it captures the crew’s attempt to communicate with air traffic control as the emergency unfolded. However, the transmissions alone do not establish what caused the aircraft to enter the uncontrolled descent.

Storm Conditions and Aircraft Damage Under NTSB Investigation

Weather is one of the major areas being examined by investigators. The aircraft passed through a strong storm cell shortly before its rapid descent, raising questions about the possible effects of turbulence, precipitation and icing.

NTSB member Tom Chapman said the weather was a key focus of the investigation, while making clear that its contribution to the crash had not yet been established.

Thunderstorms can create dangerous conditions for aircraft through powerful updrafts and downdrafts, severe turbulence, wind shear and heavy precipitation. Ice accumulation can also affect aircraft performance by changing the aerodynamic properties of wings and other surfaces.

However, the presence of a storm does not automatically establish that weather caused an aircraft to crash. Investigators must examine the actual conditions encountered by the jet, the aircraft’s response and whether any mechanical or structural problem contributed to the loss of control.

Another important development came from the recovery of parts of the Learjet’s left elevator. The elevator is a movable control surface on the aircraft’s tail that helps pilots control the aircraft’s pitch, determining whether its nose moves upwards or downwards.

Investigators recovered sections of the component in three pieces at locations between approximately 1.3 and 3.8 miles from the crash site, Chapman said.

The distance between the recovered pieces and the impact location indicates that the elevator separated from the aircraft before it reached the ground. However, investigators have not determined whether the component broke away before the uncontrolled descent and contributed to it, or whether extreme forces during the descent caused the separation.

That distinction is crucial. If the component failed before the aircraft began descending, investigators will need to examine whether a structural or control-system problem triggered the emergency. If it separated during the dive, it could instead be a consequence of the aircraft’s extreme flight conditions.

Investigators Search for Cockpit Voice Recorder and Wreckage

The NTSB is continuing to examine the crash site for additional wreckage and evidence. Investigators are also searching for the aircraft’s cockpit voice recorder, which could provide further information about what happened inside the cockpit before the emergency.

Maintenance records indicate that the Learjet had a cockpit voice recorder installed. However, investigators have not confirmed whether the device was still aboard the aircraft at the time of the accident or whether it has been recovered.

Such recordings can help investigators understand conversations between pilots, cockpit warnings, crew decisions and changes in aircraft systems. They can be particularly important when combined with air traffic control recordings, recovered components and maintenance documentation.

The investigation will also examine the aircraft’s maintenance history, the condition of its flight-control systems and the weather information available to the pilots. Investigators may need to reconstruct the jet’s final flight path to determine how the emergency developed.

Chapman said the objective was not simply to establish the sequence of events but to understand the reasons behind the accident and identify measures that could prevent similar tragedies.

“Our mission is to understand not just what happened, but why it happened, and to recommend changes to prevent it from happening again,” he said.

Aviation Community Remembers a Young Pilot’s Ambition

Nathalia’s death has drawn attention to a young aviation professional whose career had developed rapidly from childhood interest to commercial flying. At 20, she had already obtained qualifications that allowed her to operate complex aircraft and instruct other pilots.

Her story also highlights the role that family encouragement can play in helping young people pursue specialised careers. Allan introduced his daughter to flying, supported her training and eventually learned from her as she became an instructor.

For the family, the loss is not only that of a daughter but also of a companion who shared their interests, ambitions and everyday experiences. The father who once taught Nathalia to love flying now says he intends to continue the activity as a way of keeping their connection alive.

The official cause of the Learjet 60 crash remains unknown. Until the NTSB completes its examination, questions surrounding the storm, aircraft components and final moments of the flight remain unresolved.

But beyond the investigation, Allan Filgueiras wants his daughter to be remembered for what she achieved and the happiness she found in the cockpit. Nathalia had once told him that flying was the only thing she wanted to do with her life. By the time of the crash, she had turned that childhood ambition into a professional career.