POLISCOPE
Back to feed
NewsTampa Bay TimesNovember 2, 2026Hillsborough County

Family identifies 20-year-old Boca Raton resident Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras as co-pilot killed in Palm Beach County Learjet crash

Photo: Tampa Bay Times

Family members have identified 20-year-old Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras of Boca Raton as the co-pilot who died in a fiery Learjet 60 crash in Palm Beach County on Sunday afternoon. The aircraft was traveling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas when it experienced icy conditions and turbulence, prompting a mayday call and a rapid descent before crashing in Greenacres.

AviationAccidents and DisastersTransportation
Read the full story at Tampa Bay Times

Why It Matters

A fatal aviation accident has claimed the life of a young local commercial pilot and triggered an active federal investigation into a high-speed descent in Palm Beach County.

Key Facts

  • A Learjet 60 crashed in a fiery explosion in Palm Beach County on Sunday afternoon.
  • The co-pilot was identified by her family as 20-year-old Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras of Boca Raton.
  • The aircraft was flying from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.
  • The crash site is located in the Greenacres area near West Palm Beach, creating a crater off Military Trail.
  • Audio recordings indicate the pilot reported icy conditions and turbulence before declaring an emergency with a 'mayday' call.
  • The plane descended at a rate of 20,000 feet per minute, dropping about 7 miles in 60 seconds.
  • Filgueiras earned her commercial pilot license in March of this year and her private pilot license at age 17 through the School District of Palm Beach County’s Aviation Academy.
  • The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash and scheduled an update for Monday afternoon.

Who's Mentioned

locationGreenacres“Area where the plane crashed”PersonNathalia Gadelha Filgueiras“Co-pilot of the crashed Learjet 60 and Boca Raton resident”locationWest Palm Beach“City near the crash site”OrganizationAustin-Bergstrom International Airport“Airport where the flight originated”OrganizationFAA“Federal Aviation Administration center receiving emergency radio transmissions”OrganizationThe New York Times“Publication that interviewed the victim's mother”OrganizationWPEC CBS 12“News station that previously reported on the pilot”OrganizationNorth Eleuthera Airport“Intended destination airport”PersonZachary Gorwitz“Miami-based aviation attorney reviewing audio recordings”OrganizationNational Transportation Safety Board“Agency investigating the plane crash”PersonCamila Corteleti“Mother of Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras”OrganizationWest Boca Raton High School“High school attended by the co-pilot”OrganizationLiveATC.net“Source of air traffic control audio recordings”locationAustin“Departure location of the flight”locationBahamas“Intended destination of the flight”locationPalm Beach County“County where the plane crash occurred”locationBoca Raton“Hometown of Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras”OrganizationSchool District of Palm Beach County“District operating the Aviation Academy where the co-pilot earned her license”