The father of a 20-year-old co-pilot who died in a Florida Learjet crash held a news conference on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, to address his daughter's conduct and qualifications. Allan Filgueiras, himself a pilot, stated that he has listened to the final radio transmissions of his daughter, Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, multiple times to understand the events leading to the crash.
The aircraft, a Learjet 60 carrying nine people, crashed in a residential area of Palm Beach County on Sunday, Nov. 1. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators reported that parts of the jet's tail were found more than a mile from the primary crash site. All nine individuals on board were killed, including the pilot, the co-pilot, technology entrepreneur Adam Robinson, his wife Helen Sharp, their two children, and their nanny, Ana María Ramírez Cetina.
In the recorded cockpit audio, Nathalia Filgueiras reported ice buildup while flying through a thunderstorm that caused the plane to fluctuate in altitude by 700 feet. She declared an emergency, reporting an "overspeed condition" and a descent rate of 20,000 feet per minute. Attorney Stuart Grossman stated the news conference was intended to protect Filgueiras's reputation against online criticism regarding her age and experience. Filgueiras had recorded over 1,300 flight hours and held a commercial pilot's license with Learjet certification.
Aviation safety experts, such as John Cox of Safety Operating Systems, noted that her position in the co-pilot seat indicated she had met professional standards. The NTSB investigation remains in its early stages as officials analyze the cockpit voice recorder and the recovered tail sections. Grossman noted on Nov. 6 that the family has no immediate plans to file a lawsuit. No specific date for the next update from transportation officials has been set.