Overview of the Crash
All nine people on board were killed when a Bahamas-bound Learjet 60 crashed into a residential area in Greenacres, Florida, about seven miles southwest of West Palm Beach. The private business jet plummeted from the sky and erupted into a massive ball of flames on Sunday afternoon.
Federal investigators and local officials stated that the aircraft was traveling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas when the flight crew reported icing conditions and turbulence shortly before entering a rapid descent. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) members noted that preliminary indications suggest the aircraft may have begun breaking up midair before impact.
Identified Victims
While official government confirmations of all victims were still pending, families and close sources released statements identifying those on board:
- Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras: The 20-year-old co-pilot. Filgueiras earned her private pilot’s license at age 17 while attending West Boca Raton Community High School and had logged over 1,300 hours of flight time. Her mother confirmed her role as the co-pilot.
- Adam Robinson: A 45-year-old tech entrepreneur, co-founder of the email marketing platform Robly, and founder of Retention.com.
- Helen Sharp: Adam Robinson’s wife.
- Emma and Charlie Robinson: The couple’s young children, aged 4 and 2, respectively.
- Anita Maria Cetina: A caregiver who helped look after the Robinson children.
- Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr: Identified by family members as passengers on the flight.
- The Second Pilot: The identity of the pilot-in-command/captain was not immediately disclosed to the public.
Investigation Details
The NTSB and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are leading the investigation into the catastrophe. Investigators are heavily focusing on weather conditions, noting that one of the pilots had communicated with air traffic control regarding severe icing and turbulence amid heavy regional rain prior to the plane’s sudden descent. Witnesses described the terrifying final moments as the aircraft fell vertically from the sky looking like a missile going down.
