“Born to Fly”: 20-Year-Old Pilot Killed in Florida Learjet 𝔠r𝘢sh Remembered by Mentor in Emotional Tribute

A 20-year-old co-pilot who died alongside eight others in a devastating Florida plane 𝔠r𝘢sh is being remembered by her former flight instructor as one of the most naturally gifted pilots he had ever taught.

Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, from Boca Raton, Florida, was among nine people killed when a Learjet 60 crashed near Greenacres in Palm Beach County on November 1. The aircraft was traveling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas when it went down in a residential area.

In the days following the tᩚraɢedy, Chris Kirk, one of Nathalia’s first flight instructors and mentors, shared an emotional tribute praising her exceptional ability and passion for aviation.

Kirk, who said he had spent 40 years teaching pilots, described Nathalia as the most naturally gifted student he had ever trained.

“That young lady was born to fly!” he wrote, recalling how she consistently impressed examiners during her flight tests.

He also remembered her performance during her Learjet qualification. According to Kirk, she had fewer than 1,100 flight hours at the time but performed so well that the examiner reportedly thought she had accumulated around 5,000 hours.

Kirk said he had given Nathalia opportunities to fly several different types of aircraft, including tailwheel planes and a Caravan. He also recalled training her in recovery from spins as part of her flight instructor certification.

What stood out most to him, however, was not simply her technical ability but her enthusiasm for flying.

“Nathalia was PASSIONATE about flying!!!” he wrote, ending his tribute with a prayer that she would continue flying among the clouds.

Nathalia’s love of aviation began when she was a child. Her sister, Giulia, said she had dreamed of becoming a pilot since she was around 12 years old.

She earned her pilot’s license at just 17, before she had even obtained her driver’s license. She later accumulated more than 1,300 flight hours and began working as a commercial pilot.

Her family described her as hardworking, brave and determined to pursue the career she had always wanted.

“She always followed her dream. She showed any girl could do what it takes,” her sister said while remembering her outside the family’s home.

Nathalia’s mother, Camila, also spoke about the pride she felt watching her daughter achieve her lifelong ambition, despite the fear that came with her chosen profession.

The Learjet 𝔠r𝘢sh claimed the lives of all seven passengers and two pilots. Among the other victims were technology entrepreneur Adam Robinson, his wife Helen Sharp, their two young children, their caregiver Anita Maria Cetina, and friends Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr. Captain Jeff Gregory was also killed.

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board are examining the circumstances surrounding the 𝔠r𝘢sh. Air traffic control recordings indicated that the crew reported icing and turbulence before the aircraft went down. The precise cause has not been determined.

For those who taught and loved Nathalia, her dєatᩚh represents the loss of a young woman who had already achieved so much in the career she dreamed of since childhood.

Her former mentor’s tribute captured the passion that defined her short life: she was not simply learning to fly. She had made aviation her dream, her profession and her greatest love.

Source: DAILYMAIL