✈️ She learned to fly before she could legally drive. At just 20, Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras had already accumulated approximately 1,300 flight hours and was building the career she had dreamed of since childhood. But on November 1, 2026, her final flight ended in tragedy, leaving her family devastated.

FLORIDA — Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, 20, has been identified by her family as the co-pilot aboard the Learjet 60 that crashed in Greenacres, Palm Beach County, Florida.

The aircraft was traveling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas when it crashed around 12:50 p.m. on November 1.

All nine people aboard lost their lives

❤️ A Dream That Started in Childhood

Nathalia’s pᴀssion for aviation began when she was just 12 years old.

Inspired by her father, a recreational pilot, she developed a fascination with airplanes and dreamed of becoming a professional aviator.

In 2023, while still attending West Boca Raton High School, she achieved something extraordinary.

She earned her private pilot’s license at just 17, before obtaining her driver’s license.

Her training was supported by Palm Beach County’s Aviation Academy, which helped open the door to her aviation career.

✈️ More Than 1,300 Hours in the Sky

By the age of 20, Nathalia had accumulated approximately 1,300 flight hours.

She had been working professionally as a commercial pilot for around nine months and was pursuing her ambition of becoming an airline pilot.

Her mother, Camila Corteleti, recalled how determined her daughter had been to follow that dream.

She also shared the heartbreaking reality that she had always feared aviation might one day take her daughter away.

Yet she was incredibly proud of everything Nathalia had accomplished.

💔 Her Family Now Faces an Unimaginable Loss

For Nathalia’s family, the tragedy is particularly painful because she was not simply working a job.

She was living the dream she had worked toward since childhood.

The young co-pilot was among nine people aboard the aircraft, alongside pᴀssengers who also lost their lives in the crash.

The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident.

Officials have not yet determined what caused the aircraft to plunge toward the ground.

🕊️ A Dream Cut Short at Just 20

Nathalia had already accomplished what many aspiring pilots spend years working toward.

She had earned her license, built valuable flying experience, and taken her first steps toward a professional aviation career.

There were still so many destinations ahead of her and so many dreams left to pursue.

She once joked that she could fly an airplane before most people her age could drive a car. Today, those words carry a heartbreaking meaning.

For her mother, the pride of watching her daughter reach the sky will forever be accompanied by the pain of knowing she will never come home.

Rest peacefully, Nathalia. You followed your dream all the way into the sky, and your story will not be forgotten. 💔🕊️

Source: ᴀssociated Press — November 2, 2026

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Read the full ᴀssociated Press report