Learjet carrying nine plunges 20,000 feet per minute before crashing in Florida
All occupants died in the Palm Beach crash, including 20-year-old copilot Nathalia G. Filgueiras, whose family says she learned to fly from her pilot father.
By Enzo Conti ·
A private jet carrying nine people died after losing altitude at a rate of 20,000 feet per minute during its final moments in Florida. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that all occupants perished when the Learjet 60 struck the ground in Palm Beach County at 12:50 p.m. on Sunday.
The aircraft was bound for the Bahamas when the crash occurred. It broke apart in a large fireball near a busy road, leaving a crater beside the asphalt. Witnesses described the plane dipping sharply to the right before hitting the earth. Black smoke rose from the debris as onlookers gathered near the impact site, which was located mere meters from nearby homes.
Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, described the event as a catastrophic air accident. He told reporters at the scene that the plane appeared to descend like a missile. The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation, with support from the Federal Aviation Administration, according to Duffy.
Flight control recordings captured by LiveATC.net show the pilot declaring an emergency shortly before the impact. Minutes prior, the pilot reported clear and light ice that was manageable, along with moderate turbulence. The situation worsened after the jet encountered precipitation and requested a climb. The pilot then reported a rapid loss of altitude, stating the aircraft was descending at 8,000 feet per minute before accelerating to 10,000 and finally 20,000 feet per minute.
In the final transmission, the pilot stated the plane was in an overspeed condition. The crew identified the impending crash by saying they were going to crash into the ground. The aircraft hit the ground hard, creating a crater along the roadside.
Family members identified one of the victims as Nathalia G. Filgueiras, the 20-year-old copilot. Her father, a pilot himself, confirmed her identity. Her sister said the family is of Brazilian origin. She noted that Nathalia learned to fly from her father. Her sister described flying as her passion.
The crash site is in a residential area of Palm Beach. The plane landed near a highway. All nine people on board died.
Source: KTAZ
