US investigators suspect that a private jet crashed in Florida after breaking apart in mid-air before striking a multi-lane highway. The Learjet 60, which was traveling from Austin, Texas to the Bahamas, nosedived into Military Trail in Palm Beach around 12:50 local time on Sunday, exploding upon impact and killing all nine people on board.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stated that weather conditions would be a primary focus of the investigation. However, recovery efforts are being complicated by a massive crater formed on the roadway, which is partially filled with water due to severe storms and heavy rainfall reported in the area at the time of the crash. Lead investigator Tim Monville noted that retrieving major wreckage from this impacted crater presents a significant obstacle.
NTSB official Tom Chapman confirmed there is evidence suggesting the aircraft broke up before impact, meaning parts could be found scattered across sports fields, businesses, and homes some distance from the actual crash site. Flight analysis indicates the jet was plummeting at hundreds of feet per second prior to hitting the ground.
Audio recordings from air traffic control reveal the crew reporting moderate turbulence and managing ice accumulation. The pilots were heard noting precipitation and a need to climb before declaring an emergency. In the final moments, the cockpit voice recorder captured cries of an overspeed condition with a descent rate reaching 20,000 feet per minute, followed by the statement that they were going to crash into the ground.
Seven passengers died in the tragedy, identified in a joint family statement as tech entrepreneur Adam Robinson, his wife Helen Sharp, and their two children, four-year-old Emma and two-year-old Charlie. Also among the victims were Rachael Reed, Charmi Fehr, and Anita Maria Cetina. The pilot was identified as Jeffery Gregory, and the 20-year-old copilot was Nathalia Filgueiras, who had earned her pilot's license at age 17.
Robinson and Sharp's family described the couple as devoted parents whose children were the light of their lives. Robinson was the founder and CEO of RB2B and Retention.com, with previous experience at Lehman Brothers and Barclays, while Sharp was an artist. The statement highlighted Cetina's role in caring for the children with tenderness, describing her as truly part of the family. Reed and Fehr were remembered as individuals full of joy and adventure who loved fiercely.
Camila Corteleti, mother of copilot Nathalia Filgueiras, confirmed her daughter died in the fireball, recalling that she loved the freedom of flying. In a 2023 interview, Filgueiras had spoken proudly about obtaining her license while still in high school, noting that some found it unusual that she could fly planes but struggled with driving a car. A spokesperson for East Coast Jets, where Gregory previously worked, expressed deep sadness over his death.
Sources: BBC News World.