Grace Vaccaro, Staff Writer
A Learjet flying from Texas to the Bahamas crashed in Greenacres, Florida. The jet plunged more than 27,000 feet over the course of a minute. At the time of this article, investigators are working to understand why the aircraft fell from the sky.
Nine people were killed in the crash. This included tech entrepreneur Adam Robinson and his wife Helen Sharp, as well as their two children, Emma and Charlie; caretaker Anita Maria Cetina; Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr. Pilot Jeff Gregory and copilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras were also killed. According to NTSB records, this is the second deadliest plane crash this year.
The family of Adam Robinson and Helen Sharp said, “Their warmth, generosity and gift for making people feel welcome touched so many lives. Their loss will be felt deeply by all those who loved them and who they loved in return.”
Anita Maria Cetina, the family’s caretaker, was “ truly part of the family” and cared for the children with “tenderness and devotion.”
Parts of the aircraft have been found away from the crash site. The aircraft’s left elevator was found broken into three pieces. This part works to control the pitch of the airplane’s nose. It is unknown if this missing piece caused the plane to nosedive.
There is a crater left in the roadway where the plane crashed, leaving little evidence of the plane behind. NTSB Senior Air Safety Investigator Tim Monville says their biggest obstacle will be finding evidence to explain what happened.
During the time of the crash, there were scattered storms in the area. The plane had just passed through a particularly rough area right before it began to fall. Moments before the crash, Filgueiras reported to air traffic control that ice was accumulating on the plane. The outside temperature was -47 degrees Celsius. Ice can slow a plane and force it downward with the extra weight. Icing can happen at any time of year.
Right after requesting to climb to 37,000 feet, “Mayday” was declared as the plane began to fall at 8,000 feet per minute, and then 10,000 feet per minute. Ten seconds later, they were falling at 20,000 feet per minute. Less than a minute after “Mayday” was declared, the plane crashed.
Co-pilot Filgueiras was only twenty years old. She had worked hard to get her pilot’s licence at the age of 17. She graduated from American Flyers, one of the most prestigious aviation schools in the United States. Pilot Jeff Gregory leaves behind his wife and daughters. A GoFundMe has been set up in his name. He had over two decades of flying experience.
Since the crash, residents in the area have been displaced. The crash blocked the entrance to the nearby mobile home park, which made it impossible for residents to return to their homes after the crash. The county has declared a state of emergency.
As the investigation continues, our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those affected.
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