“I’VE GOT TURBULENCE, I’VE GOT ICE” — THE FINAL MESSAGE FROM A 20-YEAR-OLD PILOT BEFORE A tᩚraɢedy THAT TOOK NINE LIVES

A six-word message sent just minutes before a devastating plane 𝔠r𝘢sh has become one of the most heartbreaking details in the final chapter of 20-year-old pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras’ life.

“I’ve got turbulence, I’ve got ice.”

According to her stepfather, Thiago Corteleti, Nathalia sent those words to her boyfriend, who was also a pilot, approximately 10 minutes before the Learjet 60 she was serving aboard as co-pilot crashed in Florida on November 1, 2026.

The aircraft went down near Greenacres in Palm Beach County, 𝘬iᩚlling all nine people on board. What began as a routine flight from Austin, Texas, toward the Bahamas turned into a desperate emergency that investigators are still working to understand.

Behind the final message was a young woman who had spent years pursuing a dream of flying — and a family now struggling to comprehend how quickly everything changed.

A DREAM SHE HAD PURSUED SINCE CHILDHOOD

For Nathalia, aviation was more than a profession. It was a passion that had shaped much of her young life.

Her father, Allan Filgueiras, was also a pilot and introduced her to flying when she was around 12 years old. She went on to earn her private pilot’s licence at just 17, while still in high school.

By the time she was 20, her family said she had accumulated approximately 1,300 flight hours and had been working as a commercial pilot for around nine months.

Her mother, Camila Corteleti, had always worried about the dangers of her daughter’s chosen career. In an interview reported by the New York Post, she admitted that she feared one day the skies might take Nathalia away from her.

She nevertheless felt proud that her daughter was living the dream she had worked so hard to achieve.

That mixture of pride and fear now carries a devastating meaning for the family.

THE FINAL MESSAGE — JUST MINUTES BEFORE THE 𝔠r𝘢sh

On the afternoon of November 1, the Learjet 60 was travelling from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas to North Eleuthera in the Bahamas.

There were two crew members and seven passengers aboard.

According to Nathalia’s stepfather, she sent her boyfriend a message at approximately 12:40 p.m., describing the conditions the aircraft was encountering.

“I’ve got turbulence, I’ve got ice.”

The aircraft crashed at approximately 12:50 p.m.

The private message was later reported by several news outlets, based on the family’s account. It has not been independently authenticated as part of the official investigation.

But the concerns described in that message were also reflected in the aircraft’s communications with air traffic control.

WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE FINAL MINUTES?

Air traffic control recordings reveal that the crew reported ice accumulating on the aircraft as it encountered moderate turbulence while flying through a developing thunderstorm.

The turbulence reportedly caused the jet’s altitude to fluctuate by more than 700 feet.

The crew requested permission to climb from approximately 35,000 feet to 37,000 feet in search of smoother conditions. Controllers approved the request.

But the situation deteriorated rapidly.

The crew subsequently reported precipitation and declared an emergency as the aircraft began descending at an alarming rate.

In the final communications, the pilot reported an overspeed condition and a descent of approximately 20,000 feet per minute.

One of the final transmissions included the words:

“We’re going to 𝔠r𝘢sh into the ground.”

Then came another chilling statement:

“We’re out of time!”

The aircraft plunged toward the ground near Greenacres, where it struck the area with tremendous force and burst into flames.

All nine people aboard lost their lives.

INVESTIGATORS FIND IMPORTANT EVIDENCE MILES FROM THE 𝔠r𝘢sh SITE

The National Transportation Safety Board is examining the aircraft, its flight data, weather conditions, communications and physical evidence recovered from the surrounding area.

One significant discovery came when investigators found pieces of the Learjet’s left elevator — a component of the tail that helps control the aircraft’s pitch — scattered between approximately 1.3 and 3.8 miles from the 𝔠r𝘢sh site.

NTSB investigator Tom Chapman said the discovery was important, but investigators have not yet determined whether the loss of those components contributed to the aircraft losing control or happened as a result of the forces during its descent.

Weather conditions remain a major focus, particularly the reported ice accumulation, turbulence and developing thunderstorm.

A preliminary report was expected in about a month, while determining the probable cause could take more than a year.

For now, investigators have not announced a definitive explanation for what brought the aircraft down.

HER FATHER LISTENED TO HER FINAL RADIO CALLS — AND FOUND HIMSELF FILLED WITH PRIDE

In the days following the tᩚraɢedy, Nathalia’s father, Allan Filgueiras, spoke publicly about his daughter and the final moments of the flight.

He revealed that he had listened to her final radio transmissions many times, hoping to find some clue that might explain what happened.

But amid the grief, he also found himself struck by how she continued communicating during the emergency.

“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, holding back tears.

He also described the unbearable pain of losing his daughter, saying it felt like having his heart torn from his chest.

The family has also pushed back against criticism questioning whether Nathalia was experienced enough to serve as co-pilot on the aircraft. They point to her training, flight experience and dedication to aviation.

NINE LIVES LOST — AND QUESTIONS THAT REMAIN

Nathalia was not the only person whose future was cut short that afternoon.

The other victims included technology entrepreneur Adam Robinson, his wife Helen Sharp, their two young children, and their nanny, Ana María Ramírez Cetina. The aircraft’s captain, Jeff Gregory, was also among those killed.

Nine people boarded the Learjet that day. None survived.

For Nathalia’s family, the six words she reportedly sent shortly before the 𝔠r𝘢sh have become an especially painful reminder of her final moments.

She had wanted to spend her life in the sky. Her family had supported that ambition while quietly fearing the risks that came with it.

Now, as investigators continue searching for answers, those closest to her are left remembering a young pilot who had worked hard to make her childhood dream a reality.

The cause of the 𝔠r𝘢sh remains under investigation. But the loss of nine lives — including a 20-year-old woman whose aviation journey had only just begun — has left families and loved ones facing a heartbreak that no explanation can undo.