Mother of 20-Year-Old Co-Pilot Killed in Florida Jet Crash Says She Feared Her Daughter Would Die Flying

The mother of a 20-year-old aspiring pilot who died in Sunday’s deadly Florida Learjet crash has spoken publicly about her loss, revealing that she had long feared her daughter’s passion for aviation could one day take her life.

Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras was serving as co-pilot aboard the Learjet 60 traveling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas when it crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, shortly before 1 p.m.

The aircraft went down in a residential area near Greenacres and burst into flames. All nine people aboard, including seven passengers and two crew members, were killed.

Authorities identified the pilot as 55-year-old Jeff Gregory. Nathalia was also among those who lost their lives.

A Young Woman Who Followed Her Dream of Flying

Nathalia had been passionate about aviation from a young age. She earned her pilot’s license while still in high school, even before obtaining her driver’s license.

Her sister, Guilia Filgueiras, remembered her as an extraordinary young woman who had worked hard to achieve her ambitions.

“She was an amazing girl,” Guilia said. She added that Nathalia had shown other young women what was possible when they followed their dreams and remained determined.

Nathalia had begun her aviation education at the Aviation and Aerospace Academy at West Boca Raton High School. She later completed flight training at American Flyers in Pompano Beach.

By the time of the crash, she had reportedly been working as a commercial pilot for around nine months and had accumulated approximately 1,300 flight hours.

She had also worked as a flight instructor, with the long-term ambition of becoming an airline pilot.

In a previous interview with CBS12, Nathalia proudly described how she could fly an aircraft even before she was able to drive a car.

“I definitely do brag because people say, ‘Oh, you can’t drive,’ and I’m like, ‘Yeah, but I can fly,’” she said.

Her Mother Feared Her Dream Could Take Her Away

Following the crash, Nathalia’s mother, Camila Gadelha Corteleti, described her daughter as responsible, hardworking and dedicated.

“She was a very good girl – responsible, hardworking,” Camila told CNN Brasil.

In an interview with the New York Post, she spoke about the difficult feelings she had carried while watching her daughter pursue a career in aviation.

Camila said she had always feared that flying could eventually take Nathalia away from her.

“I knew that her dream was going to be the thing that would take her away from me,” she said.

She added that although she was proud of her daughter’s achievements and understood how much flying meant to her, she never wanted to lose her so young.

“I know if she could pick a way to go, this would be her way to go, but I didn’t want it to be so soon,” Camila said.

Her words have offered a glimpse into the heartbreak of a mother who supported her daughter’s ambitions while carrying fears about the risks associated with her chosen profession.

Mother Says Her Daughter Was Not Making the Flight Decisions

Camila also explained that Nathalia was serving as co-pilot and was not in a position to make the decisions concerning the flight.

Before the aircraft crashed, the crew reportedly communicated with air traffic control about ice accumulation and moderate turbulence.

The situation then deteriorated rapidly. Recordings captured the crew reporting a serious loss of altitude and declaring an emergency.

The aircraft eventually plunged toward the ground near Greenacres, killing everyone aboard.

NTSB Investigates Possible Midair Breakup

The National Transportation Safety Board is continuing its investigation into the disaster.

Investigators are examining the weather conditions, including reports of icing and turbulence, as they work to determine what caused the aircraft to lose control.

On Monday, NTSB board member Tom Chapman said investigators had found indications that the aircraft may have begun breaking apart before hitting the ground.

He explained that some aircraft components could potentially be discovered at a distance from the main crash site.

The investigation remains ongoing, and the exact cause of the crash has not yet been established.

For Nathalia’s family, however, the technical questions are only part of the tragedy. A young woman who had worked toward her dream of flying since childhood has lost her life, leaving behind relatives who are now mourning a future that ended far too soon.