Last Updated:
The aircraft reportedly plunged in a steep nosedive before crashing outside a mobile home park, around 11 kilometres southwest of West Palm Beach.
The victims included 44-year-old Adam Robinson, his wife Helen Sharp and their children, Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2. (X/@lukdewilde)
A multimillionaire tech executive, his wife and their two young children were among nine people killed after a business jet crashed in Florida, United States, earlier this week. Federal investigators believe the $2 million chartered Learjet 60 may have begun breaking apart before hitting the ground and bursting into flames.
The aircraft reportedly plunged in a steep nosedive before crashing outside a mobile home park, around 11 kilometres southwest of West Palm Beach. The impact left a crater at the site.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the crash, with weather conditions expected to be among its initial areas of focus. Investigators will also examine the crew’s actions and check for possible mechanical failures.
The victims included 44-year-old Adam Robinson, his wife Helen Sharp and their children, Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2. Their friends Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr, along with the family’s nanny, Anita Maria Apellido Cetina, were also aboard the aircraft.
The other two victims were the co-pilot, 20-year-old Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, and the pilot in command, 55-year-old Jeff Gregory, according to a report by the New York Post.
An air traffic control recording captured Gregory reciting the Lord’s Prayer as Filgueiras issued a ‘Mayday’ call.
Who Were The Victims Of The Florida Jet Crash?
At A Glance
A business jet crash in Florida killed nine people, including a tech executive, his family, friends, and crew.
Federal investigators believe the chartered Learjet 60 may have begun breaking apart before hitting the ground.
Co-pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras issued a Mayday call while reporting ice accumulation and severe turbulence.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash, focusing on weather conditions, crew actions, and mechanical failures.
Robinson had recently spoken about his family and their life in Aspen, Colorado, during an appearance on the ProfitLed podcast.
He co-founded Robly, an email marketing platform, and later established Retention.com, a company that uses technology to identify e-commerce website visitors through their email addresses. His LinkedIn profile also listed previous stints at Lehman Brothers and Barclays Capital.
Sharp was a ceramics artist who regularly posted videos of her creations on Instagram. She also shared photographs of the couple’s two children.
In a tribute shared on social media, the family described Adam and Helen as devoted parents and said their children were central to their lives.
“Adam and Helen were devoted parents, and Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2, were the light of their lives.”
Alle 9 slachtoffers van de vliegtuigcrash in Florida zijn geïdentificeerd:– Jeffrey Gregory, captain– Nathalia Filgueiras, copiloot– Adam Robinson, zijn vrouw Helen, en hun 2 kinderen Emma en Charlie– Charmi Fehr, zijn vrouw Rachel Reed, familie.– Anita Maria Cetina, nanny https://t.co/K6dWiSpFGD
— Luk De Wilde (@lukdewilde) November 3, 2026
The tribute also remembered Reed and Fehr, describing them as people who embraced life and cared deeply for those around them.
Their friends, Reed and Fehr, “were full of joy and adventure. They loved their people fiercely, fully and without hesitation,” the post read.
The family’s nanny, Cetina, was also remembered for her close bond with the children.
It added that the family’s nanny, Cetina, “cared for Emma and Charlie with tenderness and devotion, and she was truly part of the family. She showed us a legacy of unconditional love and devotion.”
What Happened Before The Learjet Crashed?
The aircraft was flying east when the pilot began reporting problems to air traffic control. Recordings of the communication, captured by LiveATC.net, indicate that co-pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras reported ice accumulating on the jet, while turbulence was causing the aircraft to move up and down by as much as 700 feet (210 metres).
“We have light, clear ice that is manageable and moderate turbulence,” the pilot told controllers in a professional tone.
The situation reportedly worsened rapidly. The crew first sought permission to climb another 2,000 feet (610 meters) before declaring an emergency as the aircraft began losing altitude at a rapid pace.
“We’re descending 8,000 — mayday, mayday — we’re descending 10,000 feet per minute,” the pilot radioed.
The pilot then reported an overspeed condition as the aircraft continued its descent.
“We are in an overspeed condition, descending 20,000 feet per minute,” the pilot radioed.
Moments before the crash, the pilot said, “We’re going to crash into the ground.”
Footage of the incident showed the aircraft banking sharply to the right before hitting the ground and exploding.
What Investigators Have Found So Far
NTSB member Tom Chapman said investigators had found evidence suggesting that the aircraft began breaking apart before impact. He added that debris could be scattered across a wide area.
“We may find parts of the aircraft some distance away from the actual impact site,” Chapman said during a news conference.
Jeff Guzzetti, a former investigator with the NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), suggested that crucial components of the jet’s tail may have been damaged or lost during the turbulence or the steep descent. This could have left the aircraft uncontrollable.
“That very well could explain the missile-like profile just before it hit the ground,” he said.
Investigators are also examining the weather conditions at the time of the crash. Chapman said rain had battered the region on Sunday, while one of the pilots had reported icing conditions at a high altitude.
Air traffic controllers had warned the pilots about approaching storms as the aircraft entered Florida. The FAA had also issued an official weather warning earlier.
However, investigators are yet to establish the exact weather conditions at 35,000 feet (11,000 metres), the altitude at which the jet was flying when the crew first reported problems. Chapman said determining those conditions would be an important part of the investigation.
Quick Answers
Ask News18The nine victims included tech millionaire Adam Robinson, his wife Helen Sharp, their two young children Emma and Charlie, and their friends Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr. The family’s nanny, Anita Maria Apellido Cetina, along with the pilot in command, Jeff Gregory, and co-pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, also died in the crash.
Ask News18About the Author
Aanchal is the Sub-Editor at News18.com, with more than four years of experience in national and international news. My work involves covering breaking news, politics, current affairs and developments…Read More
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
November 03, 2026, 14:35 IST
Read More
