20-Year-Old Co-Pilot Nathalia Gadelha Identified Among Nine Killed in Florida Learjet Crash
By NGN News English | November 2, 2026
WASHINGTON — A 20-year-old co-pilot who earned her pilot’s license while still in high school has been identified as one of nine people killed in a Learjet crash in South Florida.
Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras was aboard the Learjet 60 when it crashed in Palm Beach County on Sunday, November 1, and burst into flames. Her mother, Camila Corteleti, confirmed her daughter’s identity and role on the flight, according to reports by the Associated Press.
Filgueiras earned her pilot’s license in 2023 at the age of 17, while attending West Boca Raton Community High School in Palm Beach County. Her flight training was supported through the school district’s aviation academy, which provides students with opportunities to learn about aviation through practical training and technology.
Her achievement attracted attention because she was able to fly an aircraft before she was legally old enough to drive a car. In a 2023 interview, she reportedly joked about the unusual situation.
According to family accounts reported by news outlets, Filgueiras had been working as a commercial pilot for several months before the fatal accident. Her early progress in aviation had made her a promising young professional in the field.
The Learjet 60 was travelling from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas when it crashed near Cresthaven in Palm Beach County at approximately 12:50 p.m. local time on Sunday.
All nine people aboard the aircraft died, according to US authorities. There were no immediate reports of fatalities or injuries among people on the ground.
Before the crash, the flight crew contacted air traffic control and reported icing conditions and moderate turbulence. The aircraft subsequently began losing altitude rapidly. Radio recordings captured an emergency declaration as the descent intensified.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation, with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Investigators are examining the aircraft, flight data, weather conditions and communications to establish what happened.
Authorities have not yet announced a definitive cause of the crash. Reports of icing and turbulence are part of the information being examined and should not be treated as a confirmed explanation for the accident.
The deaths of the nine people aboard the aircraft have brought renewed attention to the tragedy and to the life and aviation ambitions of the young co-pilot.
NGN News English
