On Sunday afternoon, a private twin‑engine Learjet 60 that had taken off from Austin‑Bergstrom International Airport crashed in the Greenacres area of Palm Beach County, killing all nine people on board. The aircraft was bound for North Eleuthera in the Bahamas when investigators say it began to break apart in severe weather before impact.
Investigation points to in‑flight breakup
National Transportation Safety Board member Tom Chapman told reporters that early physical evidence suggests the jet suffered an in‑flight breakup. “We do have some indication that the aircraft was breaking up before impact,” Chapman said, adding that investigators may find parts of the aircraft scattered away from the main crash site.
Flight tracking data shows the jet climbed to 41,000 feet over the Gulf of Mexico before descending to 35,000 feet as it entered the Florida peninsula, where squalls and turbulence dominated the airspace. Air‑traffic‑control recordings captured the crew reporting light, clear ice and moderate turbulence, with the aircraft being tossed as much as 700 feet.
Pilot distress calls and rapid descent
After being cleared to climb an additional 2,000 feet to escape the weather, the situation deteriorated quickly. Radar data recorded a sharp right bank and a steep nose‑down attitude. The pilot radioed, “We’re descending 8,000 — mayday, mayday — we’re descending 10,000 feet per minute,” and later reported an overspeed condition descending 20,000 feet per minute.
Moments later, the pilot screamed, “Look outside, Jack, look outside … Holy f‑‑k, we’re out of time,” before the aircraft impacted the pavement at approximately 12:50 p.m. Eastern time. The final tracked descent rate was about 32,640 feet per minute, roughly 371 mph, near the limit of standard transponder tracking.
Local impact and emergency response
Witness video shows the jet striking the ground almost vertically, erupting in a massive orange fireball that sent thick black smoke over nearby rooftops. “Debris was everywhere. Debris hit my house. Everything was on fire,” said resident Anthony Blackmon.
Palm Beach County officials evacuated about 77 neighboring mobile homes, relocating roughly 600 residents to two emergency shelters. County Commissioner Joel G. Flores said the impact created a large crater in the roadway and that officials are working to clear the scene, though no timeline has been set for residents to return.
Mayor Sara Baxter asked the public to keep the victims and their families in thoughts and prayers. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office noted that the death investigation remains in its early stages.
Victims and background
Among the deceased was 20‑year‑old Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, who was serving as co‑pilot. Filgueiras earned her pilot’s license in 2023 while a senior at West Boca Raton Community High School and held ratings to fly the Learjet 60, though she was not certified as pilot‑in‑command for that model.
Her mother, Camila Corteleti, confirmed the details to the New York Post and The New York Times. Filgueiras’ father, Allan Filgueiras, declined to comment publicly.
State leaders on the scene
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis visited the crash site alongside emergency crews, describing the impact as “cataclysmic” and likening the video to a missile striking the ground. “When you see that video, it’s a jarring thing,” DeSantis said, adding that the evidence points to a serious problem in the air.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed on X that there were no survivors and asked the nation to pray for the families of the nine victims.
Ongoing investigation
Investigators from the NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration will remain on site through the week, mapping debris and analyzing radar logs that showed the jet’s weather displays flashing severe red before the breakup.
The incident underscores the dangers of severe weather to aviation and the importance of vigilant emergency response in our communities.
Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.
