PALM BEACH COUNTY, Florida — Nine people were killed when a private Learjet 60 crashed in a residential area of Palm Beach County, Florida, on November 1, authorities said. The aircraft, traveling from Austin, Texas, to North Eleuthera in the Bahamas, descended at a rate of approximately 20,000 feet per minute before impacting the ground near Cresthaven at about 12:50 pm local time.
All aboard were killed, including Adam Robinson, his wife Helen Sharp, and their two children, Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2. Also among the victims were the family's nanny, Anita Maria Apellido Cetina, and family friends Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr. The pilots were Captain Jeff Gregory and co-pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, 20.
Air traffic control audio captured the pilot reporting moderate turbulence and precipitation before the situation deteriorated. The final transmission included the pilot shouting "Mayday! Mayday!" and warning "We're going to crash into the ground" and "We're out of time." Parts of the aircraft were reported to have broken off before hitting the ground, NTSB member Tom Chapman said.
Gadelha Filgueiras obtained her pilot's licence in 2023 at age 17 while still a student at West Boca Raton Community High School. The Palm Beach County School District funded her training through the school's specialized aviation academy.
The NTSB is leading the investigation. The FAA has confirmed the crash site and said debris may be scattered some distance from the impact area. The cause of the crash has not yet been established.
The families of the victims released a statement expressing their grief and gratitude to first responders and the community, asking for privacy as they make memorial arrangements.
