Mother of 20-year-old co-pilot in Florida Learjet crash says she ‘predicted’ her daughter’s death
The mother of a 20-year-old aspiring pilot who died in the devastating Florida Learjet crash has spoken publicly about her heartbreaking loss, revealing that she had long feared her daughter’s passion for flying would ultimately take her life.
Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras was among the nine people killed when a private jet plunged into a residential area in Palm Beach County on Sunday. The young woman, who had dreamed of becoming an airline pilot since childhood, was serving as the aircraft’s co-pilot when the tragedy occurred.
Now, as investigators work to establish what caused the deadly crash, her family is remembering a determined young woman who had accomplished so much at an age when many people are only beginning to consider their future.
Read more: Everything We Know About the Florida Learjet Crash
Filgueiras was working aboard a Learjet 60 traveling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas when the aircraft suddenly lost altitude and crashed near Greenacres, Florida.
The plane came down shortly before 1 p.m. in a residential neighborhood, erupting into a massive fireball upon impact.
All nine people aboard the aircraft lost their lives, including seven passengers and the two crew members. Among the passengers were a family of four.
Authorities identified the pilot as 55-year-old Jeff Gregory. Filgueiras, who was just 20, was serving as his co-pilot.
Her family subsequently confirmed her death, with her mother sharing the devastating news through an interview with The Palm Beach Post.
The young pilot’s sister, Guilia Filgueiras, also spoke about her loss, remembering Nathalia as an extraordinary person who refused to let her age or gender stand in the way of her ambitions.
“She was an amazing girl,” Guilia said.
“She always followed her dream, she showed any girl could do what it takes,” she continued. “She was really brave and fought until the last moment she could.”
For her family, Nathalia’s death represents the loss of a young woman who had spent years working toward a dream she was determined to achieve.
Nathalia Had Already Logged 1,300 Flight Hours at Just 20
Although she was only 20 years old, Nathalia had already made significant progress in her aviation career.
According to the New York Post, she would have celebrated her 21st birthday in January and had been working as a commercial pilot for approximately nine months.
By that point, she had accumulated around 1,300 hours of flight time, an impressive achievement for someone so young.
Her journey into aviation began while she was still in high school.
Nathalia enrolled in the Aviation and Aerospace Academy at West Boca Raton High School, where she began developing the skills and knowledge needed to pursue a professional career in flying.
She later continued her aviation education at American Flyers in Pompano Beach, Florida, completing her flight training and working toward her professional qualifications.
Her ambitions did not stop after earning her pilot credentials. She eventually became a flight instructor, gaining further experience while preparing for her ultimate goal of becoming an airline pilot.
Flying had become such an important part of her identity that she often joked about achieving something most people would never expect from someone who had not yet learned to drive.
In a previous interview with local television station CBS12, Nathalia proudly explained that she had learned to fly before obtaining her driver’s license.
“I definitely do brag because people say, ‘Oh, you can’t drive,’ and I’m like, ‘Yeah, but I can fly,’” she told the station.
That confidence reflected the determination that had driven her throughout her aviation journey.
For Nathalia, flying was never simply a profession. It was a lifelong ambition, something she had worked toward through years of training, dedication and sacrifice.
Mother Describes Her Daughter as Responsible and Hardworking
Following the crash, Nathalia’s mother, Camila Gadelha Corteleti, spoke about her daughter and the devastating loss their family is now facing.
In an interview with CNN Brasil, Camila described Nathalia as a responsible, hardworking young woman who had always taken her ambitions seriously.
“She was a very good girl – responsible, hardworking,” her mother said.
Despite the unimaginable pain of losing her daughter, Camila also spoke about how proud she was of the young woman Nathalia had become.
In a separate interview with the New York Post, she explained that she had always wanted her daughter to have the opportunity to pursue her ambitions and live the life she had dreamed of.
Camila wanted Nathalia to follow her passion, even though she understood the risks associated with a career in aviation.
But her latest comments revealed an especially heartbreaking fear she had carried for years.
Nathalia’s Mother Says She Always Feared Flying Would Take Her Daughter Away
In one of the most emotional parts of her interview, Camila claimed that she had always feared her daughter’s dream of becoming a pilot would eventually lead to her death.
She said that, despite being proud of Nathalia’s achievements and supporting her ambitions, she had struggled with the thought that flying could one day separate them forever.
“I knew that her dream was going to be the thing that would take her away from me,” Camila told the New York Post.
“I knew that a plane was gonna take her away from me, I always knew it, but I was so proud of her, I know she was living her dream.”
Her words revealed the painful conflict she had experienced as a mother: wanting her daughter to succeed while carrying the fear that the very thing making her happy could also put her life at risk.
Camila also reflected on how Nathalia might have felt about the circumstances of her death, knowing how deeply she loved aviation.
“I know if she could pick a way to go, this would be her way to go, but I didn’t want it to be so soon.”
Although her mother understood how much flying meant to Nathalia, the sudden loss of her daughter at just 20 has left the family facing a future they never imagined.
Camila also emphasized in her CNN Brasil interview that Nathalia was serving as the co-pilot and was not in a position to make the decisions regarding the flight.
That distinction has become particularly important as investigators examine the aircraft’s final communications and attempt to determine what led to the crash.
Crew Reported Icing and Turbulence Before the Aircraft Plunged
Details from the aircraft’s final moments have raised further questions about the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Before the crash, the crew reportedly informed air traffic controllers that the aircraft was experiencing ice accumulation and moderate turbulence.
The situation appeared to deteriorate rapidly, with communications indicating that the aircraft was struggling to maintain a stable altitude.
According to recordings of the exchanges between air traffic control and the aircraft, the pilot reported that the jet was losing altitude at an alarming rate before declaring an emergency.
The aircraft ultimately plunged toward the ground and crashed near Greenacres, killing everyone aboard.
Investigators are now examining the communications, weather conditions and physical evidence from the wreckage to establish precisely what happened.
For Nathalia’s family, however, the technical details cannot change the devastating reality that a young woman who had dedicated her life to flying will never get the opportunity to fulfill her ultimate ambition of becoming an airline pilot.
NTSB Investigation Into the Florida Learjet Crash Continues
Federal investigators are continuing their examination of the deadly accident, with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) focusing on several possible contributing factors.
Weather conditions, particularly the reported icing and turbulence, are among the central areas being investigated.
On Monday, the NTSB revealed that there were indications the aircraft may have begun breaking apart before striking the ground at high speed, Reuters reported.
NTSB board member Tom Chapman explained that investigators were examining the possibility of an in-flight breakup and warned that aircraft components could be discovered some distance from the main impact site.
“The weather conditions are a major focus of the investigation,” Chapman said.
He continued:
“We do have some evidence that there was some breakup of the aircraft before impact. We may find parts of the aircraft some distance away from the actual impact site.”
Investigators will need to examine the recovered wreckage, flight data, weather conditions and available communications before reaching conclusions about the cause of the accident.
As the investigation moves forward, Nathalia’s family is left remembering a young woman whose determination took her into the skies long before most people her age had even begun their professional lives.
She had earned her pilot’s license while still in high school, accumulated approximately 1,300 flight hours and taken the first steps toward the career she had always wanted.
Her mother may have feared that flying would one day take her daughter away, but she also knew how much Nathalia loved the life she had chosen.
At just 20 years old, her journey ended far too soon, leaving behind a grieving family and a dream that will never have the chance to reach its full potential.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Nathalia’s family, the loved ones of all nine victims and everyone affected by this heartbreaking tragedy. May they all rest in peace.