9 Killed in South Florida Jet Crash as Parts Break Off Before Impact

National Transportation Safety Board member Tom Chapman stated on Monday that the business jet began breaking apart before it struck the ground in South Florida. Chapman indicated that investigators expect to recover components of the aircraft at locations far from the crash site in Greenacres, which lies roughly 7 miles southwest of West Palm Beach. All nine individuals on board perished when the aircraft exploded upon impact.

The plane, a private Learjet bound for the Bahamas, departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas. It was flying east at 35,000 feet when the pilot reported accumulating ice and severe turbulence to air traffic controllers. Rain was falling heavily across the region on Sunday afternoon when the distress calls began. The pilot described the situation as involving light, clear ice and moderate turbulence, but the condition worsened rapidly.

The pilot requested a 2,000-foot climb and then declared an emergency as the jet lost altitude quickly. Radio transmissions captured by LiveATC.net show the pilot reporting a descent rate of 8,000 feet per minute before escalating to 10,000 and then 20,000 feet per minute. The pilot declared an overspeed condition and stated the aircraft was going to crash into the ground. Video footage recorded by bystanders shows the plane banking sharply to the right before plunging into a crater and erupting in flames.

Anthony Blackmon, a resident near the crash site, told NBC affiliate WTVJ that debris struck his home and set the surrounding area on fire. He described the scene as having thick black smoke and chunks of pavement burning. Palm Beach County Commissioner Joel G. Flores said the county has no timeline for when the approximately 77 mobile home residents in the area can return to their homes. Those residents have been moved to a shelter while authorities clear the scene.

The pilot of the aircraft has been identified by her stepfather as Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, a 20-year-old. She earned her pilot license in 2023 while a senior at West Boca Raton Community High School. Her license included the rating to fly that specific model of Learjet 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 crash. Authorities have not released the names of the other victims.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described the event as a cataclysmic plane crash at the scene. He noted that the aircraft looked like a missile descending and left a large crater on the side of the road. Palm Beach County Mayor Sara Baxter asked the public to keep the victims in their thoughts and prayers. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office declined to provide further details on the death investigation, noting it is in its early stages.