A 20-year-old aspiring airline pilot and a Texas couple traveling with their two young children were among nine people killed Sunday when a private jet crashed into a South Florida neighborhood.
The Learjet 60 took off from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport at approximately 10:37 a.m. bound for North Eleuthera in the Bahamas. It went down in Palm Beach County shortly before 1 p.m., killing everyone aboard.
Federal investigators said Monday that weather is a major focus of the inquiry. The crew reported icing and moderate turbulence at roughly 35,000 feet before the jet rapidly descended.
The National Transportation Safety Board also said early evidence suggests the aircraft may have started breaking apart before hitting the ground.
A Learjet 60 crashed into a South Florida neighborhood Sunday afternoon. (Palm Beach County Fire Rescue)
Officials have not determined what caused the crash.
As investigators piece together the circumstances surrounding the fatal flight, more information is emerging about the nine people aboard.
Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, 20
Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, a Palm Beach County resident, hoped to become a commercial pilot. She earned her private pilot’s license at 17—before obtaining her driver’s license—and trained through her high school’s aviation academy. She later graduated from American Flyers flight school.
Nathalia Gadelha is shown outside a small aircraft on Oct. 3, 2024. (Threads/ itsnatfilg)
Adam Robinson, 45
Adam Robinson, a technology entrepreneur from Austin, Texas, was traveling with his wife, Helen Sharp, and their two young children.
In a joint statement, the families described Adam and Helen as people known for their “warmth, generosity and gift for making people feel welcome.” They called the couple’s relationship “the love affair that will last forever.”
From left, Helen Sharp, Charlie Robinson, 2, Emma Robinson, 4, and Adam Robinson pose for a family photo. The family of four was among nine people killed when a Learjet 60 crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Nov. 1, 2026. (Courtesy of the Robinson, Sharp, Reed, Fehr and Cetina families via Red Banyan)
Robinson was the CEO and co-founder of Retention.com. He also headed RB2B and Moltsets.
Retention.com, RB2B and Moltsets released the following statement after Robinson’s death:
“We are heartbroken by the loss of Adam Robinson, our CEO and co-founder, his wife Helen and their two young children, who died in a tragic plane crash in Palm Beach County, Florida, on November 1, 2026.
“Adam was much more than our CEO. He was a friend, a mentor and a bold, outspoken leader who lived life to the fullest. He cared deeply about the people around him and brought energy and conviction to everything he built. His loss is deeply felt across our team and the tech community, as we collectively mourn this significant loss.
“Our hearts are with Adam and Helen’s family and loved ones, and with everyone affected by the crash. We ask that their privacy be respected during this difficult time.
“Our immediate focus at Retention.com, RB2B and Moltsets is supporting our employees and Adam and Helen’s family. We are grateful for the kindness and support extended to them and our team.”
Helen Sharp, 40
Helen Sharp was an entrepreneur, potter and owner of a public relations company. She was traveling with her husband, Adam Robinson, and their children.
Her family said Helen and Adam were devoted parents whose generosity touched everyone around them. Their absence, the family said, “will be felt deeply by all those who loved them and who they loved in return.”
Emma Robinson, 4
Emma Robinson, 4, was aboard the jet with her parents, Adam Robinson and Helen Sharp, and her younger brother, Charlie.
In a joint statement, the families said Emma and Charlie “were the light of their lives.”
Charlie Robinson, 2
Charlie Robinson, 2, was traveling with his parents and older sister, Emma.
The families described Emma and Charlie as the center of their parents’ lives.
Rachael Reed
Rachael Reed was traveling with Charmi Fehr, her partner in building a life marked by “joy and adventure,” according to their families.
“From the moment they met, they were all in on each other and the life they were building,” the families said. “They are deeply loved, and we will miss them endlessly.”
Charmi Fehr
Charmi Fehr was aboard the Learjet with Rachael Reed when it crashed.
Their families remembered the two women as “full of joy and adventure,” adding that they “loved their people fiercely, fully and without hesitation.”
Charmi Fehr and Rachael Reed were among the seven passengers killed when a Learjet 60 crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Nov. 1, 2026. Their families described them as “full of joy and adventure.” (Courtesy of the Robinson, Sharp, Reed, Fehr and Cetina families via Red Banyan)
Anita Maria Cetina
Anita Maria Cetina cared for Emma and Charlie and was regarded as a member of the Robinson-Sharp family.
“She showed us a legacy of unconditional love and devotion,” the families said.
Anita Maria Cetina, who cared for Emma and Charlie Robinson, was among those killed in the Nov. 1 Learjet crash in Palm Beach County, Florida. The family said Cetina cared for the children “with tenderness and devotion” and was “truly part of the family.” (Courtesy of the Robinson, Sharp, Reed, Fehr and Cetina families via Red Banyan)
No additional information about the children has been released.
A Learjet 60 crashed into a South Florida neighborhood Sunday afternoon, erupting in a massive fireball about nine miles from Mar-a-Lago. (Aki Kuusisto via Storyful)
News Outlet has contacted Aurora Aviation and the 45-year-old father’s business for comment and additional information while working to independently confirm the identities of the other people aboard the aircraft.
The crew reported encountering light clear ice and moderate turbulence before the crash. After requesting clearance to climb from 35,000 feet to 37,000 feet, the crew declared an emergency as the jet began losing altitude rapidly.
“We are in an overspeed condition, descending,” the crew told air traffic controllers, according to NTSB member Tom Chapman, who spoke Monday.
At least one person on the ground suffered a leg injury. Aircraft debris was scattered across ball fields, businesses and nearby homes.
The Federal Aviation Administration is assisting the NTSB with the investigation.
