The father of the 20-year-old co-pilot killed alongside eight others in a Florida Learjet crash said Friday he has repeatedly listened to her final radio transmissions, searching for answers and finding pride in how she handled the crisis. Allan Filgueiras, a pilot who helped teach Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras to fly, spoke at a news conference where he held back tears and marveled at her resilience while the plane plunged straight toward the ground Sunday.
The tragic Florida Learjet crash claimed the lives of nine people, including technology entrepreneur Adam Robinson, his wife Helen Sharp, their two young children, and the family’s nanny, Ana María Ramírez Cetina. The remaining victims were Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr, co-owners of the Arca Boutique Hotel in Honduras. The National Transportation Safety Board has not yet determined what caused the crash, noting that the Learjet accelerated beyond its design limits during its rapid descent, leaving tail pieces miles away from the deep crater near a roadway.
Final Radio Transmissions Show Co-Pilot’s Composure Under Pressure
During the flight into a severe thunderstorm, turbulence tossed the aircraft up and down by 700 feet. Nathalia Filgueiras maintained a steady voice when reporting ice buildup to air traffic control before the situation escalated dramatically. Declare an emergency 722-Bravo-Delta. We are in an overspeed condition descending 20,000 feet per minute!
she transmitted just before the aircraft fell at breathtaking speed.
She showed me what it is to be a hero, because once you see that coming, a lot of the big boys — military or whatever — they can’t handle. And she was the one over there to the last minute fighting,
Allan Filgueiras said.
Aviation safety experts and her family have highlighted her composure while she called out updates, knowing the fate of the plane was sealed. Captain Jeff Gregory, 55, is believed to have been at the controls when the accident occurred. Allan Filgueiras expressed the depth of his grief in Spanish, noting that losing his daughter felt like having his heart torn from his chest.
Family and Instructors Defend Her Aviation Experience
In response to online criticism questioning whether she had enough experience for the cockpit of a high-performance business jet, her family, attorney, and instructors pushed back firmly. Stuart Grossman, the family’s attorney, stated that the news conference was held to preserve her memory and reputation, emphasizing that she earned her position entirely on merit with more than 1,300 hours of flight experience and proper commercial and Learjet certifications. Grossman noted that there are no immediate plans for a lawsuit.
Her mentor and instructor, Chris Kirk, recalled her dedication and hard work, mentioning that during her Learjet 60 check ride in March, the examiner was so impressed he mistook her flight time for more than 5,000 hours. Retired airline pilot John Cox added that starting professional aviation early is not unheard of in the industry, noting that he began flying professionally at age 19 and that earning a right seat in a Learjet 60 requires genuine skill and the ability to impress.
As investigators continue combing the crash site following the recovery of an engine piece, the cockpit voice and flight data recorder remains missing, leaving the official cause open as the NTSB pursues its ongoing inquiry.
Learjet co-pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras’ father spoke to the media on Friday about his daughter, one of nine killed after the plane crashed onto a South Florida highway this week. Allan Filgueiras says he taught his daughter how to fly, saying she made him so proud and… pic.twitter.com/9crKeWeyMQ
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🔥🚨 JUST IN — Father of Learjet 60 co-pilot Nathalia Filgueiras speaks out for the FIRST TIME after the Florida crash. Q: "Those final moments on her radio transmissions—have you listened to those transmissions?" Allan Filgueiras: "I did listen to that many times, trying to… pic.twitter.com/ermktWhueT”
