The 20-year-old co-pilot killed in the devastating Florida private jet crash reportedly sent her boyfriend a text message just 10 minutes before the aircraft plunged to the ground, her family has revealed.
Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras was among nine people who died when a Learjet 60 crashed in Palm Beach County on Sunday, November 1.
The aircraft had departed Austin, Texas, and was travelling towards the Bahamas when it suddenly entered a steep descent and crashed near a residential community.
Now, Filgueiras' grieving mother and stepfather have spoken about her final moments, revealing what she reportedly told her boyfriend shortly before the tragedy.
What did the Florida co-pilot text her boyfriend before the crash?
Speaking to The New York Post, Filgueiras' stepfather, Thiago Corteleti, revealed that the young pilot had contacted her boyfriend, Justin, approximately 10 minutes before the aircraft crashed.
According to Corteleti, Nathalia's message described the conditions the plane was encountering during the flight.
"She just said, 'I've got turbulence, I've got ice,'" he told the newspaper.
The message is particularly significant because air traffic control recordings indicate that the crew had also reported icing and turbulence while flying at approximately 35,000 feet.
Although the aircraft's pilots initially described the conditions as manageable, the situation rapidly deteriorated.
The Learjet subsequently entered an extraordinarily steep descent, with the crew declaring an emergency as they struggled to maintain control.
Investigators have not established whether the reported weather conditions caused the crash.
What did Nathalia Filgueiras' mother say?
Nathalia's mother, Camila, spoke emotionally about her daughter's passion for aviation and the fears she had experienced while watching her pursue her dream.
During an interview with The New York Post, Camila recalled how determined Nathalia had been to become a pilot from an early age.
"I wanted her to live her dream, but I knew that her dream was going to be the thing that would take her away from me," she said.
Camila explained that she had always worried about the risks associated with flying, despite feeling immensely proud of her daughter's achievements.
"I know she was living her dream," she added.
Her mother also recalled the moment Nathalia first announced that she wanted to become a pilot after flying in her father's aircraft.
Camila initially resisted the idea, but her husband encouraged their daughter to pursue the career she wanted.
Reflecting on the tragedy, Camila said she believed Nathalia would have wanted to spend her life doing what she loved, although she never imagined losing her so young.
Who was Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras?
Nathalia grew up in Palm Beach County, Florida, and developed a passion for aviation while she was still a child.
Her father had learned to fly recreationally, and trips aboard his Beechcraft Bonanza helped inspire her interest in becoming a professional pilot.
She began taking flying lessons in 2020 and made headlines three years later when she obtained her private pilot's licence at just 17.
Remarkably, she achieved the milestone before receiving her driver's licence.
Speaking to CBS12 in 2023, Nathalia joked about the unusual achievement.
"I definitely do brag because people say, 'Oh, you can't drive,' and I'm like, 'Yeah, but I can fly,'" she said.
She was a student at West Boca Raton High School, where she benefited from an aviation programme that helped fund her pilot training.
After completing her training, Nathalia went on to pursue further qualifications and began working as a flight instructor.
She later secured another aviation position and had reportedly been working as a commercial pilot for approximately nine months before her death.
How experienced was the 20-year-old co-pilot?
According to her stepfather, Nathalia had accumulated approximately 1,300 hours of flying experience.
She had also completed training at American Flyers, a flight school with locations in Texas and Florida.
In a social media post shared before the tragedy, Nathalia highlighted the aviation qualifications she and her boyfriend had achieved while both were still under 21.
These reportedly included commercial, multi-engine and instrument qualifications, alongside flight instructor certifications.
Her mother said employers had recognised Nathalia's dedication and enthusiasm for aviation.
Despite already working professionally as a pilot, her long-term ambition was reportedly to fly for a major commercial airline.
What happened during the Learjet's final moments?
The Learjet 60 was travelling from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport towards North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas when the crew reported difficult flying conditions.
Air traffic control recordings captured the pilots describing icing and moderate turbulence before requesting permission to climb to a higher altitude.
Shortly afterwards, the aircraft began descending at an alarming rate.
The crew declared an emergency as the jet lost altitude at approximately 10,000 feet per minute.
The reported descent rate subsequently increased to around 20,000 feet per minute, with the pilots warning controllers that the aircraft was in an overspeed condition.
In one of the final reported transmissions, a crew member warned that the aircraft was going to crash.
The Learjet struck the ground near Greenacres, Florida, at approximately 12:50pm local time, erupting into flames and killing all nine people onboard.
What caused the Florida plane crash?
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation, supported by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Investigators are examining the aircraft's flight path, maintenance history, weather conditions and available communications.
Although the crew reported icing and turbulence, officials have not confirmed that either condition caused the disaster.
Independent aviation analysts have suggested several possible explanations for the aircraft's sudden loss of control, but those theories remain unverified.
The identities of the other eight people onboard had not been publicly released at the time of the family's interview.
As the investigation continues, Nathalia's loved ones are remembering a young woman who dedicated much of her life to achieving her dream of becoming a pilot.
Her final reported message to her boyfriend offers a heartbreaking glimpse into the moments before the tragedy, while her mother's words reveal the pride and grief of a family mourning a life cut tragically short.
