Learjet co-pilot, 20, remembered as exceptionally talented pilot

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 5 Nov, 12:32 · Archive

Nathalia Filgueiras, 20, died when a Learjet crashed near West Palm Beach on Sunday, killing all nine people on board.

Nathalia Filgueiras, a 20-year-old co-pilot, died on Sunday when the Learjet she was flying crashed near West Palm Beach, Florida. The aircraft lost control whilst descending, plummeted tens of thousands of feet, and exploded on impact. All nine people on board were killed. Federal authorities are investigating the crash.

According to the New York Post, Filgueiras earned her pilot licence whilst still in high school, before she was old enough to drive. Her former flight instructor and mentor, Chris Kirk, paid tribute to her abilities. 'She was without a doubt the most naturally gifted pilot I have ever taught, and I have been teaching for 40 years,' he posted on Facebook. 'That young lady was born to fly! There was not a check ride that the examiner was not blown away.'

When Filgueiras completed her Pilot-in-Command type rating for the Learjet, she had accumulated fewer than 1,100 hours of flying experience. Kirk said she 'absolutely aced' the examination. The examiner assumed she had roughly 5,000 hours of experience based on her performance. The Pilot-in-Command type rating is a certification that qualifies pilots to act as captain or sole pilot of a specific aircraft type.

The New York Post reports that during the descent, Filgueiras, who was copiloting the aircraft, made a mayday call to air traffic control. 'We're descending 8,000, Mayday, Mayday, we're descending 10,000 feet per minute!' she was heard saying. She continued updating controllers on their altitude and speed before declaring moments before impact that they were about to 'crash into the ground' and were 'out of time.'

How it is being reported

• Tragic Learjet co-pilot Nathalia Filgueiras’ instructor calls her ‘most naturally gifted’ aviator he’s ever taught: ‘That young lady was born to fly!’The 20-year-old co-pilot on the doomed Learjet that crashed in Florida last weekend was remembered by her flying instructor as “the most naturally gifted pilot" who was "born to fly!"New York Post · 5 Nov, 12:15
• Learjet co-pilot, 20, was 'most naturally gifted pilot' instructor taught in 40-year careerThe Learjet co-pilot's former instructor and mentor shared a crushing tribute to Nathalia Gadelha Filguerias, following her death in this weekend's plane crash in Florida, saying she was 'born to fly'The Mirror · 5 Nov, 04:13
• Tragic Learjet co-pilot, 20, was incredibly talented aviator who 'aced' her exams, grieving instructor saysNathalia Filgueiras died on Sunday after the Learjet she was co-piloting with Jeff Gregory, 55, lost control and plummeted tens of thousands of feet into the ground near West Palm Beach.Daily Mail · 4 Nov, 23:14

In this story: Nathalia Filgueiras · Jeff Gregory · Chris Kirk · West Palm Beach · Florida

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