Father of 20-Year-Old Learjet Co-Pilot Breaks Down as He Reveals What He Heard in His Daughter’s Final Radio Calls

A grieving father has revealed how he repeatedly listened to the final radio transmissions of his 20-year-old daughter, who died alongside eight others when a private jet plunged from the sky in Florida.

Allan Filgueiras, himself a pilot, said he listened to the recordings over and over, desperately searching for clues about why the aircraft crashed. But amid the heartbreak, he found himself overwhelmed by pride in the way his daughter handled the emergency.

His daughter, Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, was serving as co-pilot aboard a Learjet 60 when it crashed near Greenacres in Palm Beach County on November 1, 2026. The aircraft was traveling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas when it encountered severe weather and descended rapidly.

At a news conference on November 6, Allan struggled to hold back tears as he described hearing his daughter’s voice during the final moments.

“I did listen to that many times trying to find a clue. In my head. How’d that happen? And wow, she’s tough,” he said.

He recalled wishing he could have been inside the aircraft beside her, helping her through the terrifying situation.

“I wanted to be by her side. Inside the plane, to help,” he said.

A young woman who grew up dreaming of flying

Nathalia’s love of aviation began when she was just 12 years old. Her father introduced her to flying, taking her into the air and helping her discover the career that would eventually become her greatest passion.

By the age of 17, she had earned her private pilot’s license while still attending West Boca Raton Community High School in Florida. Remarkably, she obtained her pilot’s license before getting her driver’s license.

Her family said she was born in Florida to a Brazilian family and grew up with a strong interest in aviation.

Her father later became a student of his own daughter. As Nathalia gained experience, she helped him practice emergency procedures and improve his flying skills.

The two shared a close bond through their passion for aircraft.

“She’s my soulmate,” Allan later told CNN, explaining that aviation was something they could talk about endlessly.

He said flying was the happiest part of her life. After securing a professional flying job, Nathalia had been excited that she was finally being paid to do something she loved so much.

By the time of the 𝔠r𝘢sh, she had accumulated more than 1,300 flight hours and held commercial pilot and flight instructor credentials, along with the relevant qualifications to serve as a first officer on the Learjet 60.

Her final calls as the aircraft plunged

Recordings of the communication between the crew and air traffic control reveal how quickly the situation deteriorated.

While flying at approximately 35,000 feet, the crew reported ice accumulating on the aircraft and moderate turbulence. The plane was being thrown up and down by hundreds of feet as it encountered a storm.

Nathalia initially communicated calmly, reporting the conditions and requesting a higher altitude.

But within moments, the aircraft began descending at an alarming rate.

She declared an emergency and reported that the jet was in an overspeed condition, descending at approximately 20,000 feet per minute.

Her final radio calls captured the desperate struggle inside the cockpit as the aircraft continued falling toward the ground.

The Learjet crashed in Greenacres, creating a large crater and erupting into flames. All nine people aboard were killed.

Allan said he was deeply impressed that his daughter continued communicating with air traffic control even as the situation became increasingly dangerous.

“She showed me what it is to be a hero,” he said.

Father defends daughter’s qualifications

In the days following the disaster, Nathalia’s age became a subject of online discussion, with some people questioning whether a 20-year-old pilot had enough experience to be operating a high-performance business jet.

Her family strongly rejected those criticisms.

Allan and the family’s attorney, Stuart Grossman, used the November 6 news conference to defend her professional reputation and emphasize the training she had completed.

Grossman said she was highly qualified to serve as the aircraft’s co-pilot and had worked hard to achieve her aviation goals.

The family said she had more than 1,300 hours of flight experience and had completed extensive training for her commercial qualifications and Learjet certification.

They also emphasized that she was the second-in-command, not the captain responsible for commanding the flight.

The family said there were no immediate plans to file a lawsuit over the 𝔠r𝘢sh. Their priority was to protect Nathalia’s memory and ensure that her final moments were not reduced to criticism of her age.

Nine people lost, questions remain

Nathalia was one of nine people killed in the disaster. The other victims included Captain Jeffrey Gregory, 55, technology entrepreneur Adam Robinson, his wife Helen Sharp, their two young children Emma and Charlie, nanny Anita Maria Cetina, and family friends Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr.

Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board are examining the aircraft’s wreckage, including components found miles from the impact site. Reports of icing, severe turbulence and the aircraft’s rapid descent are central to the investigation.

The NTSB has not determined what caused the 𝔠r𝘢sh. Investigators are continuing to examine the aircraft and its systems, and no final explanation has been established.

For Allan Filgueiras, the investigation may eventually provide answers about the disaster, but it cannot bring back the daughter he taught to fly.

He has vowed to continue flying in her memory, saying each time he takes to the skies, he will feel connected to her.

A father who once watched his little girl discover the wonder of flying is now left remembering her final moments in the cockpit — and the extraordinary courage he believes she showed until the very end.

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