9 dead as private jet crashes into Florida neighborhood
The aircraft, bound for the Bahamas, descended at 20,000 feet per minute after pilots reported ice and severe turbulence.
By Nia Foster ·
A private jet crashed into a residential area in Greenacres on Sunday, killing the nine individuals on board. The impact created a large crater and ignited a fire that spread to nearby structures and the road. The aircraft had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was heading to the Bahamas when it went down.
Air traffic control recordings obtained by LiveATC.net indicate the crew experienced rapid deterioration in flight conditions. The pilots reported accumulating ice and turbulence that jolted the plane by up to 700 feet. At 35,000 feet, the pilot described the ice as light and clear, while noting moderate turbulence.
The situation escalated quickly as the jet lost altitude at a high rate. The pilot requested a climb of 2,000 feet before declaring an emergency. Radio transmissions show the pilot stating the aircraft was descending at 8,000 feet per minute, then 10,000 feet per minute. In the final moments, the crew reported an overspeed condition with a descent rate of 20,000 feet per minute and stated they were going to crash into the ground.
Camila Corteleti identified her daughter, Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, as one of the pilots. Filgueiras, 20, earned her pilot's license in 2023 while attending West Boca Raton Community High School. Her license included a rating for the specific Learjet model involved but did not authorize her to be in command of the flight. Her father, Allan Filgueiras, told The Associated Press he was not prepared to discuss the event.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis visited the site and described the event as a cataclysmic plane crash. He said the aircraft looked like a missile coming down. DeSantis reported no immediate injuries or deaths among people on the ground. Palm Beach County officials evacuated approximately 600 residents from a nearby mobile home community.
Anthony Blackmon, a resident near the crash site, told NBC affiliate WTVJ that debris struck his house and that everything was on fire. He said he had never imagined such an event would happen so close to his home. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause. NTSB officials are scheduled to hold a news conference in West Palm Beach on Monday afternoon.
Source: Greenwich Time
