20-Year-Old Co-Pilot’s Mayday Calls Before Fatal Florida Plane Crash Revealed

A 20-year-old co-pilot was heard making desperate distress calls moments before a Learjet 60 crashed and exploded in South Florida, killing all nine people on board. Air traffic control recordings reveal that the aircraft's crew reported ice accumulation, moderate turbulence and rapidly deteriorating flight conditions before declaring an emergency.

The aircraft was travelling from Austin, Texas, to North Eleuthera in the Bahamas when it crashed in the Greenacres area of Palm Beach County on Sunday, November 1, 2026.

The co-pilot was identified by her family as Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, a young aviator who obtained her pilot's licence at the age of 17 while still attending high school in Florida. Her final communications with air traffic controllers have since become a key part of the public account of the accident.

Final Mayday Calls Before the Crash

According to air traffic control recordings published by LiveATC.net, the aircraft was experiencing icing and moderate turbulence while flying at approximately 35,000 feet.

Filgueiras reported that ice was accumulating on the aircraft and that turbulence was causing altitude fluctuations of up to 700 feet. The outside air temperature was reported to be around minus 47 degrees Celsius.

The crew initially described the icing as manageable but subsequently requested permission to climb another 2,000 feet in search of better flying conditions.

The situation deteriorated rapidly.

In the final communications, the co-pilot declared an emergency and 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 told air traffic controllers.

Moments later, she reported an overspeed condition and a descent rate of 20,000 feet per minute.

"We're going to crash into the ground," she said.

The aircraft subsequently plunged towards the ground and crashed in Palm Beach County.

Flight-tracking information and air traffic control recordings indicate an extremely rapid loss of altitude. However, investigators have not yet established what caused the aircraft to enter the steep descent.

She Obtained Her Pilot's Licence Before Her Driving Licence

Filgueiras began learning to fly as a teenager. She reportedly started taking flying lessons in 2020 under the guidance of her father, who had also developed an interest in aviation.

In 2023, when she was 17 and a senior at West Boca Raton Community High School in Florida, she obtained her pilot's licence.

Her achievement attracted local media attention because she had qualified to fly an aircraft before obtaining her regular driving licence.

In an earlier interview with CBS12, she spoke about her interest in aviation and the unusual experience of being able to fly while still learning to drive.

"I like being different than everyone, so to me I think it's cool that, like, it's not really an opportunity," she said.

She also spoke about how people reacted to her ability to fly planes at such a young age.

According to local media reports, the Palm Beach County School District supported her aviation training through the specialised aviation academy at her high school. The programme included practical exposure to flight simulators and drones.

However, her pilot credentials had specific limitations. According to the Associated Press, her licence included the rating required to fly the Learjet model involved in the accident but did not authorise her to serve as the aircraft's pilot in command.

Other Victims of the Plane Crash

The crash claimed the lives of nine people, including two pilots and seven passengers.

The families of the passengers released a joint statement identifying several of those who died.

The victims included:

- Adam Robinson, a technology entrepreneur.

- Helen Sharp, his wife.

- Emma Robinson, their four-year-old daughter.

- Charlie Robinson, their two-year-old son.

- Anita Maria Cetina, who helped care for the children.

- Rachael Reed.

- Charmi Fehr.

The identities of the two pilots included Nathalia Filgueiras and Captain Jeffrey Gregory, 55, whose identity was reported by CBS News.

In their statement, the families remembered Adam and Helen as devoted parents and described their children as the centre of their lives.

They also paid tribute to Anita Maria Cetina, saying she had cared for the children with affection and devotion.

The families expressed gratitude to emergency responders, investigators and the local community for their support following the tragedy.

Technology Entrepreneur Adam Robinson Among Those Killed

Adam Robinson was a technology entrepreneur associated with the Austin business community.

He co-founded Robly, an email marketing platform, and founded Retention.com, a company focused on identifying website visitors for marketing and customer-retention purposes.

Robinson had previously spoken about his family life and professional journey during an appearance on the ProfitLed podcast.

In the interview, he described his satisfaction with being able to spend time with his children while managing his business.

He also spoke about living in Aspen, Colorado, with his family and his wife's artistic interests.

His death has been mourned by members of Austin's technology and entrepreneurial community.

Thom Singer, CEO of the Austin Technology Council, described Robinson as an important part of the city's entrepreneurial network.

"Adam was part of the entrepreneurial fabric of Austin," Singer said.

NTSB Investigating the Cause of the Crash

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the accident, with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

During an initial briefing, NTSB member Tom Chapman said investigators had found evidence suggesting that parts of the aircraft may have broken away before it struck the ground.

The investigation is examining several possible contributing factors, including weather conditions, the actions of the flight crew and potential mechanical problems.

Heavy rainfall in the area has also complicated the recovery of wreckage and evidence from the crash site.

Investigators are particularly interested in recovering the aircraft's cockpit voice recorder, which could provide important information about the final moments of the flight and communications between the crew members.

Authorities have not yet established the cause of the crash. Weather conditions, including icing and severe turbulence, remain important areas of investigation.

The findings of the NTSB investigation will be essential in determining what happened aboard the Learjet 60 and why the aircraft lost control shortly before reaching its destination in the Bahamas.