Father Defends Reputation of Co-Pilot Killed in Florida Learjet Crash
Allan Filgueiras Defends Co-Pilot Daughter After Florida Learjet Crash
On Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, the father of the 20-year-old co-pilot who died alongside eight other individuals in a Florida Learjet crash mentioned that he has reviewed her final radio transmissions multiple times to seek answers while taking pride in her management of the emergency.
Allan Filgueiras, a pilot who helped teach Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras to fly, marveled at how tough she remained even as the plane plunged straight toward the ground on Sunday. He spoke at a news conference in Coral Gables, Florida.
Nathalia Filgueiras Reports Severe Ice Buildup to Air Traffic Control
Nathalia Filgueiras calmly told air traffic control about ice buildup on the plane as it flew into a thunderstorm. Turbulence tossed the aircraft up and down by 700 feet, but the situation quickly escalated as the plane fell at a breathtaking speed. “Declare an emergency 722-Bravo-Delta. We are in an overspeed condition descending 20,000 feet per minute!” she transmitted.
Her father and aviation safety experts praised her composure as she called out updates while knowing the plane’s fate was sealed. The captain, 55-year-old Jeff Gregory, is believed to have been at the controls. The National Transportation Safety Board has not yet determined what caused the crash. The Learjet accelerated beyond its design limits as it fell, and pieces of its tail were found miles away from the crash site, which is a deep crater on the edge of a road. Investigators searched the area after finding part of an engine, while the cockpit recorder remains missing.
Defending Professional Qualifications Against Online Criticism
The family challenged online criticism questioning whether she had enough experience to be in the cockpit of a high-performance business jet. She had more than 1,300 hours of experience and completed extensive training to earn her commercial pilot’s license and Learjet certification.
Stuart Grossman, the family’s attorney, stated that the news conference aimed to preserve not just her memory, but her reputation. Grossman noted that she was at the top of her class in everything she did and was perfectly qualified to be the co-pilot on the flight despite her tender years, adding that there were no immediate plans for any lawsuit.
Her mentor and instructor, Chris Kirk, said she earned her position through dedication and perseverance by putting in hard work and long hours. During her Learjet 60 check ride in March, the examiner was so impressed he thought she had more than 5,000 hours of experience—nearly four times the amount of flight time she had logged. Retired airline pilot John Cox noted that to be in the right seat of a Lear 60, a pilot has to impress somebody because it is a great ride.
Impact on Families and the Ongoing Investigation
Allan Filgueiras said he helped teach her how to fly after taking her aloft for the first time at age 12. Once she got a job as a pilot, she told him she could not believe she was getting paid to do something she loved. “It was her happiest moment, to fly,” he said.
The other crash victims included technology entrepreneur Adam Robinson, his wife Helen Sharp, and their two young children, according to relatives. The family’s nanny, Ana María Ramírez Cetina, was also killed. The remaining two victims were Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr, owners of the Arca Boutique Hotel in Honduras.
Investigators continue working to recover missing components, including the cockpit recorder, as the National Transportation Safety Board pursues the official cause of the disaster.