Twenty-year-old aspiring pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras has been identified as one of nine people who lost their lives when a private jet crashed in Florida on Sunday. Following the tragedy, her mother has spoken publicly, revealing that she had long feared her daughter’s passion for flying might one day take her away.
Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras was serving as co-pilot aboard a Learjet 60 traveling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas when the aircraft crashed in Palm Beach County.
The jet went down in a residential neighborhood near Greenacres shortly before 1 p.m., triggering a massive fire. All nine people aboard—including seven passengers, among them a family of four, and two crew members—were killed.
Authorities identified the pilot as 55-year-old Jeff Gregory. Nathalia’s mother later confirmed to The Palm Beach Post that her daughter was also among those who died in the crash.
Nathalia had earned her pilot’s license while still in high school, even before obtaining her driver’s license. Her sister, Guilia Filgueiras, spoke to the newspaper and remembered her as “an amazing girl.”
“She always followed her dream, she showed any girl could do what it takes,” her sister said. “She was really brave and fought until the last moment she could.”
As more information about the young pilot’s life emerges, it becomes clear that aviation was much more than a career choice for her. Flying had been her dream since childhood, and she had worked hard to make it a reality.
Mother of Co-Pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, 20, Speaks Out After Plane Crash
According to the NY Post, Nathalia, who would have celebrated her 21st birthday in January, had been working as a commercial pilot for approximately nine months. By that time, she had already accumulated around 1,300 hours of flight experience.
She first began learning about aviation at the Aviation and Aerospace Academy at West Boca Raton High School. She later completed her flight training at American Flyers in Pompano Beach.
Nathalia continued developing her skills and eventually became a flight instructor. Her long-term goal was to become an airline pilot.
In an earlier interview with local television station CBS12, she proudly discussed the fact that she had learned to fly before she was legally able to drive.
“I definitely do brag because people say, ‘Oh, you can’t drive,’ and I’m like, ‘Yeah, but I can fly,’” she told CBS12.
Following the devastating crash, Nathalia’s mother, Camila Gadelha Corteleti, also spoke about her daughter. She described Nathalia as a responsible, hardworking young woman.
“She was a very good girl – responsible, hardworking,” her mother told CNN Brasil.
In another interview with the NY Post, Camila explained that she had always wanted her daughter to have the opportunity to pursue her ambitions and “live her dream.”
Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras’ Mother Claimed She Had ‘Predicted’ Her Daughter’s Death
However, Camila also shared a deeply emotional revelation. She said she had always feared that becoming a pilot could eventually lead to her daughter’s death in an aircraft accident.
“I knew that her dream was going to be the thing that would take her away from me,” Camila told the NY Post. “I knew that a plane was gonna take her away from me, I always knew it, but I was so proud of her, I know she was living her dream.”
Camila continued, “I know if she could pick a way to go, this would be her way to go, but I didn’t want it to be so soon.”
During her interview with CNN, Nathalia’s mother also emphasized that her daughter was the co-pilot and was not in a position to make decisions about the flight.
Before the crash, the aircraft’s crew reportedly informed air traffic control about ice accumulating on the plane and moderate turbulence.
According to audio recordings of communications between the aircraft and air traffic control, the situation appeared to deteriorate rapidly. The pilot reported that the jet was losing altitude at an alarming rate before declaring an emergency.
The Learjet ultimately crashed near Greenacres, taking the lives of all nine people aboard.
National Transportation Safety Board’s Investigation Continues
Federal investigators are now working to determine what caused the deadly accident.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has reported evidence suggesting that the aircraft may have started breaking apart before striking the ground.
Investigators are examining several possible factors, including the weather conditions and the reported ice accumulation and turbulence.
On Monday, the NTSB said the aircraft may have broken apart before hitting the ground at high speed, according to Reuters.
“The weather conditions are a major focus of the investigation,” NTSB board member Tom Chapman said. “We do have some evidence that there was some breakup of the aircraft before impact. We may find parts of the aircraft some distance away from the actual impact site.”
The investigation is ongoing, and officials are continuing to examine the available evidence to establish what happened during the aircraft’s final moments.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and everyone affected by the tragic plane crash in Florida. May all nine victims rest in peace.
