A 20-year-old co-pilot aboard a Learjet 60 that crashed in Florida sent a chilling message to her boyfriend just minutes before the aircraft plunged towards a highway and exploded. Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras reportedly alerted him about severe turbulence and ice conditions as the plane encountered trouble during its journey from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas on Sunday.
“I’ve got turbulence, I’ve got ice,” Filgueiras texted her boyfriend Justin, according to details shared by her family. The message was reportedly sent at around 12:40 pm ET, approximately 10 minutes before the fatal crash.
Filgueiras was among the nine people killed in the accident. She would have turned 21 in January. Her final communication has drawn attention to the frightening conditions inside the aircraft shortly before it went down.
Her stepfather, Thiago Cortelet, told The New York Post that Nathalia had sent the message to her boyfriend shortly before the crash. Justin was also a licensed pilot, and both had obtained their flying licences at a young age.
Nathalia Filgueiras’ final words before Florida plane crash
The text message was not the only indication of the difficulties faced by the flight crew in the aircraft’s final moments. An audio recording from the Learjet reportedly captured Filgueiras speaking as the situation deteriorated.
In the recording, she can be heard saying, “Holy f***, we’re out of time.”
Another part of the audio captured a distress call as the aircraft began losing altitude rapidly.
“We’re descending 8,000 – mayday, mayday – we’re descending 10,000ft per minute,” Nathalia can be heard saying in the recording.
According to reports, the pilots encountered ice while flying at an altitude of approximately 35,000 feet. The aircraft subsequently began descending at an estimated rate of 10,000 feet per minute.
Heartbreaking tragedy. All nine people aboard the Learjet 60 that crashed in Palm Beach County yesterday are gone. Condolences to every family and everyone affected. According to the New York Post, the co-pilot has been identified as 20-year-old Nathalia Gadelha of Florida. Her mother and stepfather confirmed she was on the flight. She earned her private pilot’s license in high school (before her driver’s license) in 2023 and later posted about flying a Learjet 60. This video she shared shows her and her boyfriend—both under 21—holding commercial, multi-engine, instrument, and CFI/CFI-I ratings. In the final ATC audio, a female voice can be heard calling out to “Jack” as the aircraft entered a steep, uncontrolled descent after the crew reported icing and turbulence. Rest in peace to Nathalia, Jack, and everyone else on board. Thoughts with their families.
— Semper Raw ™️ (@SemperRaw) November 2, 2026
The Learjet 60 was travelling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas when it crashed in Florida. Dashcam footage captured the aircraft nosediving towards a multi-lane highway before exploding on impact.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident. Weather conditions, including thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, turbulence and ice, are among the key areas being examined.
NTSB board member Tom Chapman said, “The weather conditions are a major focus of the investigation.”
Who was Nathalia Filgueiras? Co-pilot got pilot licence at 17
Nathalia Filgueiras had developed a passion for aviation during her teenage years. She earned her pilot’s licence in 2023, when she was a senior at West Boca Raton Community High School.
Her achievement attracted attention in the local community, particularly because she had entered aviation at an age when most people were still completing their school education.
In an interview with WPEC-TV in 2023, Filgueiras spoke about the unusual experience of being able to fly an aircraft despite not having a driving licence.
“Some people think that it’s weird that I can fly planes, but I can’t drive a car. I think it’s funny,” she said.
Florida airplane crash, November 1, 2026: Around 12:50 p.m. local time on November 1, 2026, a Learjet 60 (registration N722BD, operated by LR60271 LLC) crashed near Greenacres in Palm Beach County, Florida. The co-pilot has been identified as 20-year-old Nathalia Filgueiras (also referred to as Nathalia Gadelha) of Boca Raton. Her family confirmed her role on the flight. According to preliminary details, the crew reported light clear ice, moderate turbulence, precipitation, and low temperatures. They requested a climb and then declared a mayday, reporting a steep descent (rates rising into the tens of thousands of feet per minute) and an overspeed condition. Nine people were aboard, and all were killed. The jet had departed Austin–Bergstrom International Airport in Texas, bound for North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas. Flightradar24 data showed the aircraft suddenly enter a steep dive, with descent rates exceeding 32,000 feet per minute. ADS-B and other data indicated a rapid loss of altitude from cruise levels in roughly one minute. The NTSB is leading the investigation, with FAA support. The cause has not been determined, but weather, including nearby thunderstorms is among the factors being examined.
— T (@T59544082) November 2, 2026
Her family confirmed that she had accumulated more than 1,300 hours of flight experience. Although she was authorised to fly a jet, she was not qualified to be in command of the aircraft.
Filgueiras also regularly shared photographs of her aviation journey on social media, documenting her experiences and progress as a young pilot.
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Her boyfriend Justin was also a licensed pilot. The two shared an interest in flying and had both secured their licences at a young age.
Nine people killed in Florida Learjet 60 crash
Filgueiras was one of nine people who lost their lives when the Learjet 60 crashed in Florida on Sunday.
The aircraft was travelling from Austin, Texas, towards the Bahamas when it plunged onto a multi-lane highway and burst into flames. Videos captured by dashcams showed the plane descending rapidly before the explosion.
The NTSB has begun investigating the crash to establish what caused the aircraft to lose control. Investigators are examining whether ice accumulation, turbulence and other weather-related factors contributed to the incident.
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The final text sent by Filgueiras to her boyfriend, along with the audio recording from the aircraft, has provided a glimpse into the conditions faced by the crew in the minutes before the tragedy.
However, the precise cause of the crash has not yet been established. The investigation will determine the sequence of events that led to the Learjet’s rapid descent and fatal impact.