She Was a Biomedical Engineer Who Came to America for a Better Life — Then a Florida Jet 𝔠r𝘢sh Cut Her Dreams Short

Anita Maria Cetina had crossed borders in search of a brighter future. A trained biomedical engineer from Colombia, she moved to the United States hoping to build a new life. But when putting her qualifications to work proved difficult, she found another way forward: caring for two young children whose family came to love her as one of their own.

At just 24, Anita was among the nine people killed when a Learjet 60 crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, on November 1, 2026. The aircraft was travelling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas when it went down, 𝘬iᩚlling everyone aboard.

Her dєatᩚh has left her relatives grieving a young woman whose ambitions, warmth and close family ties made her deeply cherished by those around her.

She left Colombia hoping to build a better future

Anita, also known to relatives as Ana María, was originally from Bogotá, Colombia. She had graduated in biomedical engineering from Universidad ECCI before moving to the United States with her mother nearly two years ago.

According to her sister, Angie Ramírez Cetina, finding work in her trained profession was not straightforward because having her Colombian qualifications recognised in the United States proved challenging.

Anita nevertheless needed to support herself and took a position as a nanny.

It was a different career from the one she had studied for, but the job became meaningful to her. She cared for Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2, the children of technology entrepreneur Adam Robinson and his wife, Helen Sharp.

She had been working with the family since January, and the relationship grew into something much closer than a conventional employment arrangement.

Angie said her sister loved the children and the Robinson family, and the affection was mutual. In a family tribute, Anita was remembered as someone who cared for Emma and Charlie with tenderness and devotion.

Her final days were filled with excitement for the trip

The journey to the Bahamas was something Anita had been looking forward to. It was her first time visiting the destination, and she was excited to accompany the family.

The day before the flight, she reportedly bought gifts for her mother and sister before preparing for the trip.

Shortly before departure on November 1, Anita made a video call to Angie. She showed her sister the children and the private aircraft, appearing happy and enthusiastic about the journey ahead.

“She was very happy,” Angie recalled in an interview with The U.S. Sun.

Her sister explained that Anita did not regard looking after the children as simply a job. She genuinely enjoyed being with them and felt deeply attached to the family.

“She loved the job she had,” Angie said. “She loved the children very much. She loved the Robinson family dearly.”

It was the last time the sisters would speak.

Her sister initially refused to believe the news

After the 𝔠r𝘢sh, Angie came across footage of the aircraft plunging toward the ground and erupting into flames.

She began checking the flight information, fearing that her sister might have been aboard. But the possibility was too painful to accept.

She later recalled seeing the accident and the flight path, while struggling to believe that Anita could have been on that aircraft.

The following Monday morning, their mother called and confirmed the devastating news: Anita had been among the passengers killed.

For Angie, the loss was especially painful because the sisters had shared so much of their lives.

The last time they had seen each other in person was in July, when Angie gave birth to her son. Anita had supported her throughout pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum recovery.

“She was right there,” Angie recalled, describing how her sister had stayed beside her through every stage.

Anita also adored her nephew. Angie said he was practically the apple of her sister’s eye, describing their relationship as inseparable.

Nine lives lost in the Florida 𝔠r𝘢sh

The Learjet 60 was carrying nine people, including Anita, the Robinson family, two family friends, pilot Jeffrey Gregory and co-pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras.

The aircraft crashed near Greenacres in Palm Beach County shortly after departing Texas for the Bahamas. There were no survivors.

Investigators have been examining the circumstances surrounding the disaster. Preliminary information indicated that the crew reported icing, moderate turbulence and precipitation before the aircraft entered a rapid descent. The cause of the 𝔠r𝘢sh has not yet been established.

For Anita’s family, however, the investigation cannot change the painful reality of losing someone they loved.

She had left Colombia hoping to create new opportunities, carried her engineering education and ambitions with her, and found a place in a family that welcomed her with affection.

Now, those who knew her are left remembering not only the young woman who dreamed of a better future, but also the devoted sister, daughter and aunt whose final video call became an especially precious memory.

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