NFL star Joe Mixon has disclosed that he travelled aboard the same Learjet 60 involved in Sunday’s fatal Florida crash, revealing that he had flown with both pilots just weeks before the disaster that claimed nine lives.
The 30-year-old Pro Bowl running back shared the revelation in an emotional post on X, paying tribute to the pilots who had safely transported him during his previous journey.
Mixon said he was devastated by the crash and expressed sympathy for the victims’ families, particularly after learning more about the young female pilot who died.
“I flew on that exact aircraft last month with those same two pilots,” he wrote.
He described them as highly professional and genuinely wonderful people.
He also referred to the young woman’s promising future, saying it made the tragedy even more heartbreaking.
Mixon concluded his message by offering prayers and condolences to everyone affected by the disaster.
Young Pilot and Captain Identified Among the Victims
The female pilot mentioned by Mixon has been identified as 20-year-old Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras.
She grew up in Palm Beach County and obtained her pilot’s licence in 2023, at the age of 17.
Filgueiras worked for Upper Jets, a private charter company based in Fort Lauderdale.
The aircraft’s captain was identified by TMZ on Monday as 55-year-old Jeff Gregory, believed to be the second pilot who accompanied Mixon on his journey last month.
It remains unclear where the NFL player travelled aboard the aircraft.
Family of Four and Three Others Among Those Killed
The other victims included businessman Adam Robinson, 45, his wife, Helen Sharp, 40, and their two young children, Emma, four, and Charlie, two.
The family was travelling from their home in Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas alongside their nanny, Anita Maria Cetina, and another couple, Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr.
The victims’ families confirmed the identities in a joint statement following the crash.
All nine people aboard the Learjet 60 died when the aircraft came down in Greenacres, Palm Beach County, on Sunday.
Final Moments Captured in Aircraft Audio
Audio recordings released on Monday captured the pilots’ final moments before the aircraft crashed.
During the recording, Gregory could be heard reciting the Lord’s Prayer as the situation deteriorated.
Filgueiras was also heard reporting that the aircraft had banked at 60 degrees, indicating that it was tilted sharply to one side.
The jet subsequently crashed in a fireball beside a road, killing everyone on board.
NTSB Examines Weather Conditions and Possible Aircraft Failure
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
At a press conference, investigators said severe weather was believed to have been a significant factor in the disaster.
They also revealed that part of the aircraft appeared to have separated before it hit the ground.
The pilots had reportedly requested permission to climb an additional 2,000 feet after encountering a thunderstorm shortly before the aircraft spiralled towards the ground.
Aviation experts have raised the possibility that the Learjet encountered a phenomenon known as coffin corner while attempting to climb above two storm systems.
Coffin corner refers to the narrow operating range between an aircraft’s minimum safe speed and maximum safe speed at high altitudes.
Flying too slowly or too quickly within these conditions can result in an aerodynamic stall or loss of control.
Mixon’s NFL Future Remains Uncertain
Mixon’s revelation comes as he continues searching for his next NFL team as a free agent.
The running back travelled to Seattle last month to undergo a physical examination with the Seahawks.
However, the franchise ultimately decided against offering him a contract because of concerns surrounding his degenerative foot condition.
Following the decision, NFL insiders suggested that Mixon might never return to professional football, with several teams reportedly expressing doubts about his long-term fitness.
