Father of slain co-pilot praises daughter's calm radio calls after Florida Learjet crash

Allan Filgueiras, a pilot who helped train his daughter, said he has listened repeatedly to the last radio messages transmitted by his 20-year-old daughter, Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, before the Learjet she was co-piloting crashed on Sunday, killing all nine aboard.

"I did listen to that many times trying to find a clue. In my head. How'd that happen? And wow, she's tough," Filgueiras told reporters on Friday, holding back tears.

Nathalia's communications with air-traffic control began with a calm report of ice buildup as the aircraft entered a thunderstorm, followed by a declaration of an emergency and an overspeed descent of 20,000 feet per minute. Aviation safety experts noted that she continued to provide updates even as the situation deteriorated.

The family, which includes the pilot’s lawyer Stuart Grossman, emphasized that Nathalia held more than 1,300 flight hours, completed extensive training, and was certified for the Learjet, countering online criticism about her experience. Grossman said the news conference was intended to preserve her memory and reputation.

Retired airline pilot John Cox, now CEO of Safety Operating Systems, said the co-pilot position on a Learjet 60 required a high level of competence and that Nathalia had earned the role.

The National Transportation Safety Board has not yet determined the cause of the crash. Investigators found that the aircraft exceeded its design limits as it fell, and debris from the tail was scattered over a mile from the impact site.

Victims also included technology entrepreneur Adam Robinson, his wife Helen Sharp, their two children, and the family nanny Ana María Ramírez Cetina.