A family of four, including two young children, was among the nine people who died when a Learjet crashed near West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday.
Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) believe severe weather was a significant factor in the crash. The pilots had requested to gain altitude when they encountered a thunderstorm, moments before the aircraft began to spiral to the ground. The NTSB also indicated that part of the jet appeared to have broken off before impact.
Dash cam footage captured the Learjet 60 nose-diving into an intersection before bursting into flames. The aircraft, en route from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas, was reportedly flying at 35,000 feet when the pilot began reporting problems.
Audio recordings from air traffic control revealed the co-pilot, 20-year-old Nathalia Filgueiras, screaming in a final distress call. She reported the plane was descending rapidly, experiencing an overspeed condition, and banking severely. The pilot could be heard reciting the Lord's Prayer.
Filgueiras, who had a passion for aviation and had recently earned her pilot's license, had informed air traffic control of the plane's rapid descent and 60-degree bank. Her final transmission indicated they were out of time.
Family members identified the married couple and their two toddlers as passengers on the doomed flight. One grieving grandparent described the loss as "quite a blow."
Weather conditions in the West Palm Beach area at the time of the crash included overcast skies, rain, lightning, and winds gusting up to 25 mph. Visibility was reported at seven miles. The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, with officials examining stormy weather and potential ice buildup on the aircraft.