Co-pilot killed in fiery Florida Learjet crash identified as 20-year-old who learned to fly before driving

The co-pilot aboard a private jet that crashed into a South Florida neighborhood Sunday, killing all nine people on board, has been identified as a 20-year-old aspiring airline pilot who earned her wings before getting her driver's license, according to a report.

Nathalia Gadelha's mother and stepfather confirmed to the New York Post that she was the co-pilot aboard the Learjet 60 that plummeted into a residential area in Palm Beach County while traveling from Texas to the Bahamas.

Gadelha, who grew up in Palm Beach County, made headlines in 2023 when she earned her private pilot's license at just 17 years old while attending West Boca Raton High School.

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"I definitely do brag because people say, 'Oh, you can't drive,' and I'm like, 'Yeah, but I can fly,'" she told local station CBS12 at the time.

Gadelha began taking flying lessons in 2020 and received additional instruction from her father, who had learned to fly recreationally in 2018, the outlet reported at the time.

The 2023 news report detailed how she accumulated 88 hours of flight time while pursuing her private pilot's license, which was funded through the School District of Palm Beach County's Aviation Academy.

The young aviator later graduated from American Flyers, a flight school based in Addison, Texas, with a location in Pompano Beach, Florida, according to the Post.

Gadelha told CBS12 that she hoped to become a commercial airline pilot.

In a recent social media post cited by the Post, she shared a video of herself flying with her boyfriend, Justin, highlighting their aviation accomplishments at such young ages.

"How often do you see 2 pilots under 21 with a commercial, multi-engine, instrument, CFI/CFI-I," she wrote, referring to several aviation certifications and instructor ratings.

The Learjet 60 departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was headed to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas when it crashed near Cresthaven, Florida, around 12:50 p.m. Sunday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

All nine people aboard the aircraft were killed, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed Sunday afternoon.

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Air traffic control recordings captured by LiveATC.net revealed that the flight crew reported ice accumulation and turbulence before the aircraft began rapidly losing altitude, according to The Associated Press.

"We have light, clear ice that is manageable and moderate turbulence," a pilot told controllers.

The crew subsequently requested permission to climb another 2,000 feet before declaring an emergency as the aircraft plunged toward the ground.

"We're descending 8,000 — mayday, mayday — we're descending 10,000 feet per minute," a pilot radioed, according to the AP.

"We are in an overspeed condition descending 20,000 feet per minute," the pilot continued, before warning, "We're going to crash into the ground."

Dashcam footage captured the jet plunging nose-first into the neighborhood, as Fox News Digital previously reported.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis described the crash as "cataclysmic."

The crash also forced the evacuation of approximately 600 people from a nearby mobile home community, according to local officials.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash. The cause has not been determined, and NTSB officials are expected to provide an update Monday.

Fox News Digital’s Emma Bussey contributed to this report.

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