Florida jet may have been breaking up before crash that killed 9: NTSB
National Transportation Safety Board member Tom Chapman said investigators are looking at weather as a "major focus," and said there is evidence that the Learjet that crashed in South Florida was breaking up.
A 20-year-old aspiring airline pilot and a Texas couple traveling with their two young children are among the nine people killed when a private jet plunged into a South Florida neighborhood Sunday.
The Learjet 60 departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport at about 10:37 a.m. and was headed to North Eleuthera in the Bahamas when it crashed in Palm Beach County shortly before 1 p.m., killing everyone on board.
Federal investigators said Monday that weather conditions are a "major focus" of the investigation after the crew reported icing and moderate turbulence at about 35,000 feet shortly before the jet rapidly lost altitude.
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The National Transportation Safety Board also said there are preliminary indications that the aircraft may have begun breaking apart before impact.
A Learjet 60 crashed into a South Florida neighborhood Sunday afternoon (Palm Beach County Fire Rescue)
The cause of the crash has not been determined.
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As investigators work to determine what caused the deadly crash, details are beginning to emerge about some of the nine people who were on board.
Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, 20
Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras was an aspiring commercial pilot from Palm Beach County who earned her private pilot's license at 17, before she got her driver's license. Filgueiras trained through her high school's aviation academy and later graduated from American Flyers flight school.
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Nathalia Gadelha is pictured standing outside a small aircraft on 10/3/2024. (Threads/ itsnatfilg)
Jeff Gregory, 55
Jeff Gregory, 55, was the pilot in charge, the New York Post reported.
Adam Robinson, 45
Adam Robinson was an Austin, Texas, tech entrepreneur and devoted father who was traveling with his wife, Helen Sharp, and their two young children.
In a joint statement, the families remembered Adam and Helen for their "warmth, generosity and gift for making people feel welcome," saying their relationship was "the love affair that will last forever."
From left, Helen Sharp, Charlie Robinson, 2, Emma Robinson, 4, and Adam Robinson pose for a family photo. The family of four was among nine people killed when a Learjet 60 crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Nov. 1, 2026. (Courtesy of the Robinson, Sharp, Reed, Fehr and Cetina families via Red Banyan)
Robinson was CEO and co-founder of Retention.com and also led RB2B and Moltsets.
Retention.com, RB2B and Moltsets issued the following statement following Robinson's 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.
"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.
"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."
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Helen Sharp, 40
Helen Sharp was an entrepreneur, potter and public relations company owner who was traveling with her husband, Adam Robinson, and their children.
Her family remembered Helen and Adam as devoted parents whose generosity touched those around them, saying their loss "will be felt deeply by all those who loved them and who they loved in return."
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Emma Robinson, 4
Four-year-old Emma Robinson was traveling with her parents, Adam Robinson and Helen Sharp, and her younger brother, Charlie.
Emma and Charlie "were the light of their lives," the families said in a joint statement.
Charlie Robinson, 2
Two-year-old Charlie Robinson was traveling with his parents and older sister, Emma.
The families remembered Charlie and Emma as the center of their parents' lives.
Rachael Reed
Rachael Reed was traveling with Charmi Fehr, with whom she was building a life filled with "joy and adventure," their families said.
"From the moment they met, they were all in on each other and the life they were building," the families said. "They are deeply loved, and we will miss them endlessly."
Charmi Fehr
Charmi Fehr was traveling with Rachael Reed when the plane went down.
Their families remembered the pair as "full of joy and adventure" and said they "loved their people fiercely, fully and without hesitation."
Charmi Fehr and Rachael Reed were among the seven passengers killed when a Learjet 60 crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Nov. 1, 2026. Their families remembered them as "full of joy and adventure." (Courtesy of the Robinson, Sharp, Reed, Fehr and Cetina families via Red Banyan)
Anita Maria Cetina
Anita Maria Cetina cared for Emma and Charlie and was considered part of the Robinson-Sharp family.
"She showed us a legacy of unconditional love and devotion," the families said.
Anita Maria Cetina, who cared for Emma and Charlie Robinson, was among those killed in the Nov. 1 Learjet crash in Palm Beach County, Florida. The family said Cetina cared for the children "with tenderness and devotion" and was "truly part of the family." (Courtesy of the Robinson, Sharp, Reed, Fehr and Cetina families via Red Banyan)
Upper Jet, which operated the Learjet, declined to confirm the identity of the captain when contacted by Fox News Digital, instead referring questions about the crash to federal investigators.
"We would like to provide our condolences to everyone affected by the catastrophic event of yesterday, November 1, 2026," Upper Jet Director of Operations Thomas Noetzel said in a statement. "Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by this tragedy."
A Learjet 60 slammed into a South Florida neighborhood Sunday afternoon, erupting into a massive fireball just nine miles from Mar-a-Lago. (Aki Kuusisto via Storyful)
Noetzel said the company is cooperating with local, state and federal authorities and that information about the crash would come from the NTSB and other authorities.
The Learjet's crew reported encountering light clear ice and moderate turbulence shortly before the crash. After requesting permission to climb from 35,000 feet to 37,000 feet, the crew declared an emergency as the aircraft began rapidly losing altitude.
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"We are in an overspeed condition, descending," the crew told air traffic controllers, NTSB member Tom Chapman said Monday.
At least one person on the ground suffered a leg injury, while debris from the aircraft was scattered across ball fields, businesses and homes.
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The FAA is assisting the NTSB with the investigation.
Fox News Digital's Emma Bussey, Bonny Chu and Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.
