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Tech CEO killed in Learjet crash posted eerie message about plane crashes months before disaster
A Texas-based tech CEO shared a haunting message about plane crashes just months before he died alongside his family in the Florida Learjet 60 crash.
Adam Robinson, the founder and chief executive of Retention.com, RB2B, and MoltSets, was among nine people killed when the private aircraft plunged to the ground in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday (November 1).
The jet had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was traveling to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas when it went down in a residential neighborhood near Greenacres.
The plane burst into flames on impact, scattering debris across the surrounding neighborhood. Investigators have since revealed evidence suggesting parts of the jet may have separated before it struck the ground.
Adam Robinson's eerie post about plane crashes resurfaces
More than six months before his death, Robinson shared a post on X that has now taken on a heartbreaking new meaning.
On April 17, he wrote: "You don't need to crash a plane to learn to fly ... and you don't need VC to build a business."
It seems like message was business advice, but following Robinson's tragic death in an actual plane crash, the post has attracted renewed attention on social media platform.
Several people expressed shock at the coincidence. "OH man, this is sad," one person commented. "How eerie. Prayers for their loved ones," another wrote. A third added: "Tragic to read this in hindsight."
Robinson was traveling to the Bahamas to celebrate his birthday with his wife, Helen Sharp, their four-year-old daughter Emma, their two-year-old son Charlie, their nanny, Anita Maria Apellido Cetina, and two close friends, Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr.
A joint statement shared with VT.co by the families of those killed confirmed the deaths of Robinson, Sharp, Emma, and Charlie, Reed, Fehr, and Cetina.
"With broken hearts, our families share that Adam Robinson and Helen Sharp, their children Emma and Charlie, Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr, and Anita Maria Cetina were among those lost aboard the flight that went down near Greenacres, Florida, on November 1," the statement read.
"Adam and Helen were devoted parents, and Emma, four, and Charlie, two, were the light of their lives. Helen and Adam were the love affair that will last forever. Their warmth, generosity and gift for making people feel welcome touched so many lives. Their loss will be felt deeply by all those who loved them and who they loved in return."
The families also paid tribute to Reed and Fehr, describing them as people who were "full of joy and adventure" and who loved those around them fiercely.
Remembering Cetina, they added: "Anita Maria cared for Emma and Charlie with tenderness and devotion, and she was truly part of the family. She showed us a legacy of unconditional love and devotion.
"We are deeply grateful to the first responders, investigators, and the Palm Beach County community for their care, and to everyone who has reached out with love. Our hearts are also with the families of the pilots, who are grieving alongside us.
"We ask for privacy as we grieve. Details about memorial services will be shared once arrangements are made. With love, The Robinson, Sharp, Reed, Fehr, and Cetina families," they concluded.
Robinson's companies release heartbreaking tribute
Robinson's colleagues at Retention.com, RB2B, and MoltSets also issued an emotional statement following news of his death.
"We are heartbroken by the loss of Adam Robinson, our CEO and co-founder, his wife Helen, and their two young children, who died in a tragic plane crash in Palm Beach County, Florida, on November 1, 2026," they said.
"Adam was much more than our CEO. He was a friend, a mentor and a bold, outspoken leader who lived life to the fullest. He cared deeply about the people around him and brought energy and conviction to everything he built. His loss is deeply felt across our team and the tech community, as we collectively mourn this significant loss."
They added: "Our hearts are with Adam and Helen’s family and loved ones, and with everyone affected by the crash. We ask that their privacy be respected during this difficult time.
"Our immediate focus at Retention.com, RB2B, and Moltsets is supporting our employees and Adam and Helen’s family. We are grateful for the kindness and support extended to them and our team."
The tragedy also claimed the lives of the aircraft's captain, 55-year-old Jeffrey Gregory, and 20-year-old co-pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras.
During a preliminary briefing on Monday, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed the pilots had encountered icing, turbulence, and precipitation shortly before the crash.
The Learjet 60 was flying at approximately 35,000 feet when the pilots requested permission to climb to 37,000 feet in an attempt to find smoother conditions. However, less than 30 seconds after the request was approved, the aircraft began descending rapidly.
The crew subsequently issued a distress call and reported an overspeed condition as the jet continued losing altitude at an alarming rate.