Nathalia Gadelha, a 20-year-old pilot from Palm Beach County, has been identified as the co-pilot of the Learjet 60 that crashed near West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday, killing all nine people aboard.
Gadelha’s family confirmed her identity to The New York Post, revealing that she was at the controls of the aircraft when it went down.
She first obtained her pilot’s licence in 2023, aged 17, and previously appeared in a local media report discussing her early achievements in aviation.
Speaking to CBS12 at the time, she said she enjoyed telling people about her ability to fly when they questioned her driving skills.
“I definitely do brag because people say, ‘Oh, you can’t drive,’ and I’m like, ‘Yeah, but I can fly’,” she said.
Her mother frequently shared photographs of Gadelha and her siblings travelling on private jets.
Her father, Allan, also holds a pilot’s licence.
Final Moments Captured in Air Traffic Control Audio
Audio recordings released following Sunday’s crash captured the final communications between the Learjet crew and air traffic controllers in Miami.
During the exchange, the male pilot, whose identity has not been disclosed, could be heard reciting part of the Lord’s Prayer, saying, “Who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.”
Meanwhile, Gadelha reported that the aircraft was experiencing a serious loss of control as it descended rapidly.
She initially informed controllers that the Learjet was descending at 8,000 feet before issuing a mayday call and reporting a descent rate of 10,000 feet per minute.
Her transmissions subsequently became increasingly urgent as she declared an emergency and reported that the aircraft was experiencing an overspeed condition.
Gadelha later reported that the jet was descending at 20,000 feet per minute and warned that it was heading towards the ground.
An air traffic controller attempted to reassure the crew, telling her, “I’m here with you, talk to me.”
She then reported a descent rate of 22,000 feet per minute and said the aircraft was banking at 60 degrees.
Her final transmission was a scream: “We’re out of time.”
Aviation Experts Raise Possibility of Coffin Corner
Although the precise cause of the crash has not been established, aviation experts have suggested that the aircraft may have encountered a phenomenon known as coffin corner while attempting to navigate around storm systems.
Coffin corner occurs when an aircraft reaches an altitude where its minimum safe flying speed and maximum safe operating speed become extremely close to each other.
This leaves pilots with a narrow speed range within which they must maintain control.
Flying too slowly or too quickly can cause the aircraft to stall or become uncontrollable.
Former pilot Martin Varsavsky, who now runs an artificial intelligence company, suggested that the weather conditions may have contributed to the accident.
In a post on X, he said radar images showed storm cells in the area and argued that light jets should maintain a safe distance from such weather systems rather than attempt to fly through them.
He also explained that changes in outside temperatures associated with storms can affect an aircraft’s ability to remain airborne at a particular speed, potentially creating conditions associated with coffin corner.
Storm Conditions Recorded Before the Crash
The Learjet 60 was travelling from Austin, Texas, to North Eleuthera in the Bahamas when it crashed near West Palm Beach.
Before the accident, air traffic controllers had authorised pilots in the area to deviate left or right because of moderate precipitation southeast of their position.
The weather was described as particularly unpleasant, with controllers also warning of moderate turbulence as the business jet approached the area.
Conditions around West Palm Beach on Sunday afternoon included overcast skies, rain and lightning. Easterly winds were recorded at approximately 15mph, with gusts approaching 25mph.
The National Weather Service in Miami reported visibility of seven miles.
The aircraft, valued at approximately $2 million, crashed around eight miles from President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago country club.
Crash Scene Leaves Extensive Road Damage
The impact produced a massive crater in the road, with debris scattered across a considerable distance and nearby infrastructure damaged.
Authorities confirmed that nobody on the ground was injured or killed.
The road affected by the crash is not expected to reopen for approximately another month, according to officials.
The identities of the other eight people who died aboard the aircraft have not yet been released.
Authorities were expected to provide further information at a press conference on Monday.
Federal Authorities Investigate Fatal Accident
The Federal Aviation Administration is sending a team to assist the National Transportation Safety Board with its investigation into the crash.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the FAA’s involvement on Sunday as federal authorities began examining the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Investigators are expected to establish what happened during the aircraft’s final moments, including the role of the weather conditions and the reported loss of control.
Meanwhile, speculation circulated on social media claiming that musician Lenny Kravitz was among those aboard the aircraft.
His representative subsequently denied the reports, confirming that the rockstar was not on the flight.
The investigation into the deaths of all nine occupants remains ongoing.
