N722BD is a Learjet 60 serial number 60-271. (Image: FightRadar)
Disturbing audio has surfaced indicating that the very same Learjet 60 that came down in Florida on Sunday had received a warning from air traffic control during a flight several months prior to the disaster. Reports suggest the warning was issued after the aircraft struggled to hold its altitude in severe turbulence back in May.
The Sun is reporting that the aircraft appears to be the same Learjet involved in the deadly crash in Palm Beach this weekend, which claimed the lives of all nine people on board.
The private jet’s passengers have now been identified as multi-millionaire tech entrepreneur Adam Robinson, 44, Helen, 40, their two children Emma, four, and Charlie, two, their nanny Anita Maria Cetina and two family friends Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr.
The aircraft’s captain during Sunday afternoon’s crash has since been named by TMZ as Jeff Gregory, 55, who died alongside his co-pilot, 20 year old Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras.
The U.S. Sun has reported that it has obtained audio of an earlier incident involving the same plane, recorded months before the tragedy.
According to reports, a female pilot informed air traffic control that the aircraft was experiencing “moderate chop” and stated they were unable to maintain altitude.
Tragic final posts of Florida plane crash pilot, 20, – ‘flight date’ with boyfriend (Image: itsnatfilg/threads)
The controller swiftly challenged the crew, responding: “If you can’t maintain altitude, that’s not moderate. That’s severe turbulence.”
The dramatic exchange, first reported by MailOnline from the ATC App, took place in May as the aircraft flew near Newark, New Jersey. According to The Sun, the controller can initially be heard inquiring: “November Two Bravo Delta, why are you climbing?” The female pilot responded: “We were just about to call you.
“We’re experiencing moderate chop and unable to hold altitude, Two Bravo Delta.”
The controller stated: “That’s not moderate. Descend to four thousand immediately.”
The controller subsequently cautioned the pilots regarding another business jet in the vicinity. A male pilot then characterised the conditions once more, informing the controller: “We’ve got moderate chop, sir.”
However, the controller challenged this again, stating: “If you can’t maintain altitude, that’s not moderate. That’s severe turbulence. Are you experiencing severe turbulence?”.
The private jet suddenly crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida (Image: AP)
Both pilots consistently answered: “Affirmative.”
The controller then enquired whether anyone on board had sustained injuries, with the female pilot answering: “No injuries as of now, but we’re still experiencing severe turbulence.”
The identities of the pilots heard communicating during the May incident have not been verified, and it remains uncertain whether the woman was the co-pilot of the Learjet crash on Sunday. However, the aircraft involved in the incident was the identical Learjet 60 that crashed on Sunday, bearing the same FAA registration, N722BD.
The co-pilot of Sunday’s devastating crash, Nathalia, obtained her private pilot’s licence at 17-years-old, before she even possessed a driving licence. She commenced flying lessons in 2020 and also received instruction from her father, who pursued flying as a pastime in 2018.
Despite being just 20 years old, Nathalia had already accumulated approximately 1,300 hours of flying experience, according to her family.
The National Transportation Safety Board has subsequently stated that the aircraft was travelling through temperatures of -50 degrees Fahrenheit when it started to encounter these conditions.
During the journey, the 20 year old co-pilot transmitted a message to the Federal Aviation Administration’s air traffic controllers, indicating the flight crew was managing the ice.
However, due to the severe weather conditions, she requested permission from air traffic control officials for the flight team to ascend to 37,000ft, which was granted.
Fewer than 30 seconds afterwards, an emergency mayday call came at 12.48pm on Sunday from the Learjet 60 crew, stating: “We are in an overspeed condition, descending 20,000ft per minute.”
National Transportation Safety Board member Tom Chapman verified the contents of the transmission at a press conference on Monday.
As the circumstances became critical, Filgueiras kept pleading for assistance: “We’re descending 8,000 – mayday, mayday – we’re descending 10,000ft per minute.”
Police at the scene with debris and road damage from the crash (Image: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
The captain could subsequently be heard reciting the Lord’s Prayer, before Nathalia said “holy f**k we’re out of time” and the audio from the Learjet went silent.
At a press conference, Mr Chapman revealed investigators had fresh details.
He said: “We do have some evidence that there was some breakup of the aircraft before impact.”
Meanwhile, investigators reported the Learjet debris field and crash crater extended across the surrounding area. Meteorological conditions are set to be a central element of the inquiry, as officials scrutinise the intense turbulence, icing and stormy weather encountered before the aircraft abruptly plummeted.
The board has deployed approximately 20 investigators to assess the jet’s structure and systems, weather patterns, air traffic control communications and flight-recording equipment.
