Federal investigators are examining the role of 20-year-old co-pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras in the crash of a Learjet 60 that killed all nine people on board. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed that the aircraft was flying in extreme conditions, including temperatures of -50 degrees Fahrenheit, when it began to accumulate ice and encounter heavy turbulence.
Authorities stated that the plane began to break apart before impacting the ground, scattering debris over a half-mile radius near a trailer park in Palm Beach, Florida. The crash site, which is partially filled with water, has presented challenges for investigators.
The Learjet, en route from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas, had ascended to approximately 37,000 feet to avoid inclement weather. The crew reported encountering icing and turbulence shortly before the aircraft rapidly descended. NTSB investigator Timothy Monville noted that there is "some indication the aircraft was breaking up before impact."
The jet was reportedly descending at a rate of about 32,000 feet per minute before its impact. Co-pilot Filgueiras, who obtained her pilot's license in high school, is believed to have texted her boyfriend about the icing and turbulence shortly before the crash. The pilot and the seven passengers have not been publicly identified.
Investigators have not yet determined the definitive cause of the crash or the extent to which ice accumulation may have been a contributing factor.