The final text message reportedly sent by a 20-year-old co-pilot just minutes before a private jet crashed in Florida has been revealed by her grieving family.
Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras was among nine people killed when a Learjet 60 crashed into the Greenacres area of Palm Beach County on Sunday, November 1.
The aircraft was travelling from Austin, Texas, towards the Bahamas when it suddenly lost altitude and plunged towards the ground.
Emergency services responded to the crash at approximately 12:50pm local time, but all nine people onboard were killed.
Now, Nathalia's family has revealed that she contacted her boyfriend just 10 minutes before the tragedy, sharing a brief message about what was happening during the flight.
What was Nathalia Gadelha's final text message?
According to her stepfather, Thiago Corteleti, Nathalia sent a message to her boyfriend, Justin, at approximately 12:40pm, around 10 minutes before the aircraft crashed.
Speaking to The New York Post, Corteleti revealed what she reportedly wrote.
"I've got turbulence, I've got ice," the message read, according to her stepfather.
The short exchange has taken on heartbreaking significance following the disaster, particularly because air traffic control recordings indicate that the crew had reported similar conditions during the flight.
Corteleti explained that the message was sent shortly before the Learjet entered its fatal descent.
However, the text has been reported through the family's account, and its original contents have not been independently authenticated in the available reporting.
What happened to the Learjet 60?
The aircraft departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was travelling towards North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.
During the journey, the crew reportedly encountered challenging weather conditions while flying at approximately 35,000 feet.
According to air traffic control recordings obtained by LiveATC.net, the pilots reported icing and moderate turbulence before requesting permission to climb to a higher altitude.
Initially, the conditions were described as manageable.
But the situation deteriorated rapidly when the aircraft entered a steep descent.
The crew declared an emergency as the jet began losing altitude at an extraordinary rate.
One pilot reported a descent of approximately 10,000 feet per minute before warning that the aircraft was descending even faster.
The crew also reported an overspeed condition as they struggled to regain control.
In one of the final reported transmissions, a pilot warned: "We're going to crash into the ground."
Moments later, the Learjet crashed near Military Trail, between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North, in Palm Beach County.
The aircraft erupted into flames on impact, killing everyone onboard.
Who was Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras?
Nathalia was a 20-year-old pilot from Palm Beach County who had dreamed of working in aviation since childhood.
She began taking flying lessons in 2020, following encouragement from her father, who had also developed an interest in flying.
Her passion eventually led her to earn her private pilot's licence in October 2023, when she was just 17 years old.
Remarkably, she achieved the qualification before obtaining her driver's licence.
Speaking to CBS12 at the time, Nathalia joked about the unusual milestone.
"I definitely do brag because people say, 'Oh, you can't drive,' and I'm like, 'Yeah, but I can fly,'" she said.
She attended West Boca Raton High School, where an aviation programme helped support her training.
After gaining further qualifications, she went on to work as a flight instructor before securing another professional flying position.
Her family said she had accumulated approximately 1,300 hours of flying experience and had been working as a commercial pilot for nine months.
Her long-term ambition was reportedly to fly for a major commercial airline.
What has Nathalia's family said about her death?
Nathalia's mother, Camila, and stepfather identified her publicly following the crash.
In an emotional interview with The New York Post, Camila described the pride she felt watching her daughter pursue her ambitions, alongside the fears she had always carried about the risks of aviation.
"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 recalled that Nathalia had been determined to become a pilot from a young age, despite her mother's initial reservations.
Her stepfather had encouraged her to follow her ambitions, believing she should be able to pursue the career she wanted.
The family said Nathalia loved flying and had worked tirelessly to establish herself in the aviation industry.
Her death came just months before what would have been her 21st birthday in January.
What did witnesses see when the aircraft crashed?
The Learjet came down near a residential community in Greenacres, leaving a large crater and scattering debris across the surrounding area.
Witnesses described a terrifying explosion as the aircraft struck the ground.
Local resident Anthony Blackmon told NBC6 that debris had reached his home and that flames were visible around the crash site.
Emergency crews closed nearby roads while firefighters and investigators responded to the incident.
Officials initially reported no deaths or injuries among people on the ground.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described the crash as catastrophic, comparing the aircraft's descent to a missile striking the ground.
What caused the Florida plane crash?
The cause of the disaster has not yet been officially determined.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation, with support from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Investigators will examine the aircraft's flight history, maintenance records, weather conditions, wreckage and available communications.
Although the crew reported icing and turbulence before the crash, neither has been confirmed as the cause of the aircraft's loss of control.
Independent aviation commentators have offered several possible explanations, but those theories remain unverified.
The FAA confirmed to UNILAD that the NTSB is responsible for the investigation and will provide official updates.
As authorities continue examining what happened, Nathalia's final reported message offers a poignant glimpse into the last minutes of a young pilot who had spent much of her life working towards her dream.
Her family and the loved ones of the eight other victims are now left mourning a tragedy that claimed nine lives.
