Nine Dead in Florida Jet Crash: Austin Tech Founder, Family, and Friends Among Victims
The Learjet 60 went down in Palm Beach County Sunday, killing Adam Robinson, his family, two friends, a nanny, and two crew members.
By Leila Reynolds ·
Nine people died when a Learjet 60 crashed in Palm Beach County on Sunday morning. The victims include Adam Robinson, 44, an Austin-based technology executive, his wife Helen Sharp, their two children, their nanny, and two close friends. Two flight crew members also lost their lives.
Robinson co-founded RB2B and Retention.com and served as CEO of MoltSets. He graduated from Rice University in 2003 and played varsity basketball there. His wife, Helen, founded Influential PR, a performance public relations agency. The family was traveling from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas when the plane went down.
Anthony Robinson, Adam’s brother, confirmed the deaths in a Facebook post on Monday afternoon. He described Adam and Helen as devoted parents whose warmth touched many lives. Their daughter, Emma, was 4 years old, and their son, Charlie, was 2. Anthony also identified the friends who died, Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr, as joyful and adventurous individuals who loved their circle fiercely.
The group also included Anita Maria Apellido Cetina, the family’s nanny. Anthony Robinson stated that she was truly part of the family and showed a legacy of unconditional love and devotion. The two crew members killed were 55-year-old captain Jeff Gregory and 20-year-old co-pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras.
Willis Wilson, Robinson’s former basketball coach at Rice, said the university community is in shock and deeply saddened by the tragedy. Wilson described Robinson as an uplifting guy who was loved by his teammates and coaches. He sent prayers to Adam, his family, and the other victims’ surviving relatives.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash. The cause has not been determined yet. The NTSB said weather will be a major focus of the inquiry. Anthony Robinson thanked first responders and the Palm Beach County community for their care. He asked for privacy for all the grieving families.
