Co-Pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras Texts Before Crash

Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, a 20-year-old co-pilot of a Learjet 60, sent a text message to her boyfriend, Justin, approximately 10 minutes before the aircraft crashed in Greenacres, Palm Beach County, Florida, on November 1. The message, noted for its six words, was sent at around 12:40 pm, shortly before the jet plummeted and exploded on impact, resulting in the deaths of all nine individuals aboard.

The Learjet had taken off from Austin, Texas, and was headed to the Bahamas when it encountered deteriorating conditions at an altitude of about 35,000 feet. Air traffic control recordings revealed the crew reporting turbulence, ice accumulation, and precipitation as they declared an emergency.

The aircraft was descending at a rate of 10,000 feet per minute. Nathalia had over 1,300 hours of flight experience and had been working as a commercial pilot for about nine months.

She was qualified to fly the Learjet 60 but was not authorized to serve as pilot in command. Nathalia was set to turn 21 in January.