The aviation world is mourning the loss of a young pilot whose final text message before a catastrophic crash has left many heartbroken. Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, just 20 years old, was one of the co-pilots aboard the Learjet that went down in Florida on Sunday, killing all nine people on board.
According to her stepfather, Thiago Corteleti, Filgueiras sent a text to her boyfriend—also a pilot—at 12:40 p.m., a mere ten minutes before the aircraft plummeted at around 12:50 p.m. The message read: “I’ve got turbulence, I’ve got ice.” It was her last known communication.
Despite her youth, Filgueiras was no novice in the cockpit. She had logged more than 1,300 flight hours and earned her pilot’s license at just 17 in October 2023. In a past interview with CBS12, she proudly declared, “I definitely do brag because people say, ‘Oh, you can’t drive,’ and I’m like, ‘Yeah, but I can fly.’”
Filgueiras frequently flew alongside her boyfriend, and the couple often shared photos and videos of their time in the sky. Her co-pilot on Sunday’s flight has not yet been identified, but harrowing audio from the final seconds reportedly captures him reciting the Lord’s Prayer as Filgueiras screams about their descent.
Her mother, devastated by the loss, told the New York Post, “I wanted her to live her dream, but I knew that her dream was going to be the thing that would take her away from me. I knew that a plane was gonna take her away from me. I always knew it, but I was so proud of her. I know she was living her dream.”
The tragedy has sent ripples through the aviation community, highlighting the risks that pilots face even in routine flights. It also serves as a stark reminder of the human cost behind every aviation incident. As investigators work to determine the cause of the crash, the focus remains on the vibrant life of a young woman who chased her passion to the very end.
Filgueiras’s story resonates far beyond Florida, touching anyone who has ever pursued a dream against all odds. Her final words, simple yet haunting, underscore the unpredictability of flight and the bravery of those who take to the skies.
In the wake of this tragedy, many are reflecting on the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing every moment. The aviation community has lost a rising star, and her family has lost a beloved daughter and stepdaughter. As one friend put it, “She was living her dream, and she left doing what she loved.”
Rest in peace, Nathalia. Your passion and courage will not be forgotten.
