20,000 feet per minute: Father defends co-pilot's final actions
Allan Filgueiras says his daughter maintained control during the Florida Learjet crash that killed nine people.
By Ivan Dvorak ·
The Learjet was descending at 20,000 feet per minute when Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, 20, declared an emergency. Her father, Allan Filgueiras, listened to those final radio transmissions repeatedly after the aircraft crashed in Florida on Sunday. Nine people died in the accident. The co-pilot had reported ice buildup as the plane flew into a thunderstorm and experienced severe turbulence that tossed the aircraft up and down by 200 metres.
Allan Filgueiras, a pilot himself, held a press conference on Friday to address the crash. He spoke about his daughter's calm demeanor during the final moments. The aircraft entered a high-speed descent, and she clearly stated that the plane was in an overspeed condition. Aviation safety experts and family members noted that she continued providing updates even after the situation appeared hopeless.
The family addressed online criticism regarding the co-pilot's age and experience at the event. Allan Filgueiras said his daughter had accumulated more than 1,300 hours of flight time. She had completed extensive training to earn her commercial pilot's licence. He described her as a hero who fought to the last minute, noting that experienced military pilots often struggle when facing catastrophic failure. He believes she performed better than most professionals would have in that crisis.
Attorney Stuart Grossman represented the family at the conference. He stated that the event aimed to preserve Nathalia's memory and reputation. Grossman said she was at the top of her class in all endeavors and was perfectly qualified for the role. He also noted that there were no immediate plans to file a lawsuit over the crash. Allan Filgueiras expressed his grief in Spanish, describing the loss as having his heart torn from his chest.
The National Transportation Safety Board is still investigating the cause of the crash. Evidence suggests the Learjet accelerated beyond its design limits during the fall. Pieces of the plane's tail were found kilometres away from the main crash site. Retired airline pilot John Cox, CEO of Safety Operating Systems, observed that Filgueiras had to impress many people to earn the co-pilot seat on a Lear 60. He began flying professionally at age 19, a similar age to Filgueiras.
The victims included technology entrepreneur Adam Robinson, his wife Helen Sharp, and their two young children. Their family nanny, Ana María Ramírez Cetina, was also killed. The plane's captain and pilot in command was 55-year-old Jeff Gregory, who was also lost in the incident. Allan Filgueiras said he is now searching for a way to continue living with this loss.
The family held the news conference to honor Nathalia's memory and defend her competence. Allan Filgueiras frequently held back tears as he described her performance. The NTSB investigation continues to determine the definitive cause of the crash.
