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What Happened in the Florida Learjet Crash? Nine Killed as Investigators Examine Possible Mid-Air Breakup
A private jet crashed in Greenacres, Florida, on November 1, 2026, killing all nine people aboard after its pilots reported ice accumulation and turbulence during the flight from Texas to the Bahamas.
The flight from Texas to the Bahamas
On Sunday, November 1, 2026, a privately operated Learjet 60 departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas, bound for North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.
The aircraft, registered as N722BD, was operated by Aurora Aviation, which does business as Upper Jets. There were nine people aboard: two crew members and seven passengers in total.
At approximately 12:50 p.m. Eastern Time, the jet crashed in Greenacres, in Palm Beach County, Florida, near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North. All nine people aboard were killed.
The impact created a large crater and sparked a fireball. The aircraft came down near a mobile home community, with debris scattered across nearby properties. Approximately 600 residents were evacuated as emergency crews responded to the crash site.
One person on the ground was also injured, according to investigators. No other deaths were reported on the ground.
What happened to the 20 year old co-pilot?
Among those killed was Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, a 20 year old co-pilot from Boca Raton, Florida. Her family confirmed her identity following the crash.
Filgueiras had started taking flying lessons in 2020. In 2023, at the age of 17, she earned her private pilot's licence while attending West Boca Raton High School. Her training was supported through the Palm Beach County School District's Aviation Academy.
She later trained at American Flyers and reportedly accumulated approximately 1,300 flight hours. Reports said she had been working as a commercial pilot for around nine months before the crash.
About 10 minutes before the aircraft went down, Filgueiras reportedly sent a text message to her boyfriend, Justin, who was also a pilot.
According to her stepfather, Thiago Corteleti, the message read: “I've got turbulence, I've got ice.” The message indicated that the crew was encountering difficult weather conditions during the flight.
The final communications before the crash
The NTSB's preliminary timeline provides further details about the aircraft's final minutes.
At approximately 12:47 p.m., while flying at around 35,000 feet, the crew reported moderate turbulence and light clear icing to air traffic control. They also reported precipitation and altitude fluctuations of approximately 700 feet.
The pilots requested permission to climb from 35,000 feet to 37,000 feet, which air traffic control approved.
Less than 30 seconds later, the aircraft began a rapid descent. The crew transmitted a mayday call and reported that the jet was in an overspeed condition. Radio communications also described an increasingly rapid loss of altitude.
The aircraft went from approximately 35,250 feet to 8,750 feet in about a minute, according to the timeline presented by investigators. The jet ultimately struck the ground at around 12:51 p.m.
What investigators have found so far
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation, with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration.
During a November 2 briefing, NTSB board member Tom Chapman said investigators had found preliminary evidence that the aircraft may have started breaking apart before impact. He noted that aircraft components could be found some distance from the main crash site.
The debris field reportedly stretches across approximately half a mile, covering nearby roads, businesses, residences and other properties.
Weather conditions are a major focus of the investigation. Investigators are examining the reports of icing, turbulence and precipitation, alongside the aircraft's maintenance history and other possible contributing factors.
The NTSB is also working to establish whether a cockpit voice recorder was aboard the aircraft at the time of the crash. Maintenance records indicate that one had previously been installed, but investigators had not yet confirmed whether it remained on board.
The cause of the crash has not been determined. Investigators have cautioned that the inquiry remains in its early stages and that the preliminary evidence does not establish why the aircraft lost control or whether weather conditions contributed to its breakup.
The aftermath for nearby residents
Although everyone aboard the aircraft died, the crash also affected people living and working near the impact site.
The evacuation of approximately 600 residents from the nearby mobile home community disrupted hundreds of households. Emergency crews and investigators continued working around the wreckage, while access to parts of the area remained restricted.
The incident also prompted renewed attention to the risks posed by aircraft accidents in populated areas, particularly when a crash occurs close to residential communities.