US4 min(s) read
20-year-old Learjet co-pilot’s flight instructor breaks silence about her experience following fatal crash
The flight instructor and mentor of 20-year-old Nathalia Filgueiras, the co-pilot on the Learjet plane that crashed in Florida last Sunday, has paid an emotional tribute to his former student.
Filgueiras was co-piloting the aircraft alongside 55-year-old Captain Jeff Gregory when it lost control and crashed in Greenacres, killing all nine people on board.
Investigators have yet to establish an official cause of the disaster, but severe weather, ice accumulation, extreme turbulence, and a possible mid-air structural failure are among the factors being examined.
Co-pilot's former instructor pays emotional tribute
Now, Filgueiras' former instructor, Chris Kirk, has shared a heartfelt message about the young pilot on Facebook, reflecting on her brilliant abilities and passion for aviation.
Writing on Wednesday, Kirk revealed that Filgueiras had fewer than 1,100 flight hours when she took her Learjet type rating examination, which she 'absolutely aced,” reportedly leaving the examiner so impressed that they believed she had around 5,000 hours of experience.
A type rating is an additional qualification on a pilot's license that allows them to operate a particular category of aircraft.
Paying tribute to her former student, Kirk wrote: “That young lady was born to fly!”
He went on to describe Filgueiras as “without a doubt the most naturally gifted pilot I have ever taught” during his 40-year teaching career.
“There was not a check ride that the examiner was not blown away!” he added.
Kirk also remembered giving Filgueiras opportunities to gain experience flying a variety of aircraft, including tailwheel planes and the Caravan, with Kirk admitting that during her spin endorsement training for her Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) license, the pair performed so many spins that he began to feel sick.
He also praised the young pilot's enthusiasm, explaining that he had become frustrated with trainees who wanted to become airline pilots without sharing a genuine love of flying.
However, he claimed Filgueiras stood apart from those students and was 'hugely PASSIONATE about flying!!!'.
Concluding the tribute, Kirk wrote: “I pray that she continues to fly amongst the clouds in heaven.”
Federal investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the crash, which left a huge crater in the road and scattered debris across an area stretching around half a mile.
The devastating incident that killed nine people
Filgueiras was co-piloting the Learjet 60 on a journey from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas when cockpit audio captured her desperately communicating with air traffic control as the aircraft began descending.
She initially reported experiencing 'moderate turbulence' before declaring an emergency.
“Mayday mayday... we’re descending 10,000ft per minute,” she told the controller.
Moments later, she warned that the aircraft was experiencing another serious problem.
“Declaring emergency, declaring emergency, we are in an overspeed condition,” she said.
The air traffic controller responded: “I’m here with you, talk to me.”
Filgueiras then described the terrifying descent, saying: “We are descending 22,000ft, and we are banking 60 degrees.”
Her final transmission was: “We’re out of time.”
Her family also told the New York Post that she had managed to send a text message to her boyfriend, Justin, shortly before the crash.
“I’ve got turbulence, I’ve got ice,” she reported.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has since said severe weather played a 'significant factor' in the disaster, while investigators believe part of the aircraft may have broken away before it struck the ground.
Among the passengers were entrepreneur Adam Robinson, 45, founder of technology company Retention, his wife Helen Sharp, 40, and their two young children, Emma and Charlie.
The family was also traveling with their nanny, Anita Maria Cetina, as well as another couple, Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr.
The group had been traveling together to celebrate Robinson's birthday.
In a joint statement, the victims' families paid tribute to Robinson and Sharp, remembering them as 'devoted parents' whose children 'were the light of their lives'.
They also shared an emotional message about the couple's relationship, writing: “Helen and Adam were the love affair that will last forever.”