Copilot Nathalia Gadelha, 20, Identified in 9-Fatal Florida Learjet Crash
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Nov 2
Copilot Nathalia Gadelha, 20, Identified in 9-Fatal Florida Learjet Crash
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Nov 2
Summary
Nathalia Gadelha, 20, was identified as the copilot aboard the Learjet 60 that crashed Sunday near Cresthaven in Palm Beach County, killing all nine people on board.
Air traffic recordings captured the crew reporting manageable ice and moderate turbulence, then requesting 2,000 feet more altitude before declaring mayday during a plunge of up to 20,000 feet per minute.
The jet had departed Austin and was bound for North Eleuthera in the Bahamas when it slammed nose-first into a residential area around 12:50 p.m., triggering a fireball and evacuations of about 600 nearby residents.
Gadelha, a Palm Beach County native, earned her private pilot's license at 17 after logging 88 hours in a school-funded aviation program and had said she hoped to become a commercial airline pilot.
The FAA and NTSB are investigating the crash, with federal officials expected to provide an update Monday as the cause remains undetermined.