Florida Learjet Crash: Copilot, 20, Among 9 Killed in Palm Beach

A Learjet 60 flying from Texas to the Bahamas crashed into a residential area of Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday, killing all nine people on board, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The copilot was identified as 20-year-old Nathalia Gadelha, a South Florida native who earned her private pilot’s license at 17, her family told the New York Post.

What happened

The jet left Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was headed for North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas when it went down near Cresthaven around 12:50 p.m. Sunday, the FAA said. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed Sunday afternoon that all nine people aboard died.

Recordings from LiveATC.net, cited by the Associated Press, show the crew reporting light ice and moderate turbulence before asking to climb another 2,000 feet. The pilot then declared an emergency, radioing that the aircraft was descending at 8,000 and then 10,000 feet per minute, and later warning of an overspeed condition at 20,000 feet per minute before saying the plane would hit the ground.

Dashcam video showed the jet going down nose-first. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called the crash “cataclysmic.” Local officials said about 600 people were evacuated from a nearby mobile home community.

Why it matters

Ice accumulation is a known hazard in flight, and the crew’s radio calls suggest the situation escalated from manageable icing to a rapid, uncontrolled descent within moments. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating, and the cause has not been determined. This suggests investigators will focus on weather, aircraft systems and crew response, but no finding has been announced.

The crash also put a spotlight on Gadelha, who told CBS12 in 2023 that she earned her pilot’s license before her driver’s license and hoped to fly for an airline. She trained through the School District of Palm Beach County’s Aviation Academy and later graduated from American Flyers, a flight school with locations in Texas and Pompano Beach, Florida, according to the Post.

Key facts at a glance

What this means for you

• If you live near Cresthaven or the evacuated mobile home community, follow local officials’ instructions; the evacuation affected roughly 600 people.
• Private jet travel is subject to the same icing and turbulence risks as other flights; the NTSB investigation will determine whether weather or other factors played a role.
• No cause has been established, so avoid drawing conclusions from the radio calls alone.

Frequently asked questions

Who was the copilot in the Florida Learjet crash?

Nathalia Gadelha, 20, of Palm Beach County. Her mother and stepfather confirmed her identity to the New York Post. She earned her private pilot’s license at 17 and had hoped to become a commercial airline pilot.

What caused the Learjet crash?

The cause has not been determined. The FAA and NTSB are investigating. Radio recordings indicate the crew reported ice and turbulence before the plane descended rapidly.

How many people died in the Palm Beach County jet crash?

All nine people on board were killed, according to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

What to watch next

NTSB officials are expected to provide an update Monday. The investigation is likely to examine weather conditions, the aircraft’s systems and the crew’s actions before the crash.