“THAT YOUNG LADY WAS BORN TO FLY!” — FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR’S HEARTBREAKING TRIBUTE TO 20-YEAR-OLD PILOT NATHALIA FILGUEIRAS AFTER DEADLY LEARJET CRASH

A gifted young pilot who earned her wings before she even obtained her driver’s license is being remembered through an emotional tribute from the instructor who helped shape her aviation journey.

Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras was just 20 years old when she died in a devastating Learjet 60 crash in Palm Beach County, Florida, on November 1, 2026.

Now, her former flight instructor, Chris Kirk, is sharing the memories of a student he says he will never forget.

After four decades of teaching pilots, Kirk described Nathalia as the most naturally gifted aviator he had ever trained.

“She was without a doubt the most naturally gifted pilot I have ever taught, and I have been teaching for 40 years!!” he wrote in an emotional tribute.

“That young lady was born to fly!”

His words have resonated with people following the tragedy, offering a glimpse into the remarkable talent and passion behind the young woman whose life was cut short.

A NATURAL TALENT WHO IMPRESSED EVERYONE

Nathalia’s passion for aviation began when she was still a teenager.

She earned her private pilot’s license at just 17, while still attending high school — even before obtaining her driver’s license.

According to Kirk, she consistently impressed flight examiners during her training, performing so well that one examiner was astonished by her abilities.

He recalled that when she completed training for the Learjet, an examiner believed she had thousands of hours of flying experience because of how confidently she handled the aircraft.

Kirk also remembered giving Nathalia opportunities to fly different types of aircraft, including tailwheel airplanes and a Cessna Caravan.

But one memory stood out in particular.

Nathalia loved practicing aerobatic spins in his small Cessna 150 Aerobat. She enjoyed the experience so much that Kirk eventually became nauseous after performing repeated spins with her.

He recalled having to tell his enthusiastic student that he needed to stop.

Even then, he remembered, she found the whole experience amusing.

For Kirk, those memories reflected something that could not simply be taught: a genuine love of flying.

“SHE WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT FLYING”

In his tribute, Kirk made a point of distinguishing Nathalia from students who viewed aviation primarily as a path toward a lucrative airline career.

He said she had a genuine passion for being in the air.

“Nathalia was PASSIONATE about flying!!! She was a 100 percent natural born pilot!!!” he wrote.

He also described her as a wonderful person whose talent was matched by the way she treated others.

The instructor’s tribute was not simply about her technical abilities. It was about a young woman whose enthusiasm had left a lasting impression on the people fortunate enough to teach and fly alongside her.

Kirk later told PEOPLE that her death had left him devastated.

“Because I was close to her, it ripped my heart out and left me with a deep feeling of emptiness,” he said.

THE FINAL FLIGHT THAT ENDED IN TRAGEDY

On November 1, Nathalia was serving as co-pilot aboard a Learjet 60 traveling from Austin, Texas, toward the Bahamas.

The aircraft crashed in a residential area near Greenacres in Palm Beach County, Florida.

All nine people aboard were killed, including Nathalia, the pilot-in-command Jeff Gregory, and seven passengers.

According to information released during the investigation, the crew had reported ice buildup and moderate turbulence while flying at approximately 35,000 feet.

The aircraft subsequently began a rapid descent.

Air traffic control recordings captured a series of increasingly urgent emergency transmissions from the cockpit.

Nathalia could be heard reporting the aircraft’s descent and declaring a mayday.

In one of the most distressing moments of the recording, she warned that the aircraft was going to crash into the ground.

The transmissions became a critical part of the investigation as authorities worked to understand what happened during the final moments of the flight.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash. Its exact cause has not yet been established.

A YOUNG PILOT WHO FOUGHT UNTIL THE END

Nathalia’s final radio calls have also drawn attention to her actions during the emergency.

Her former instructor told PEOPLE that he believed her deliberate transmissions could provide investigators with important information about the aircraft’s final moments.

He said very few aviators would have the strength and composure to continue making those communications under such extraordinary circumstances.

Her father, Allan Filgueiras, also spoke publicly about his daughter’s final moments.

At an emotional news conference, he praised her determination and said he wished he could have been beside her to help.

He described her as a hero for continuing to fight as the aircraft descended.

Her family has also faced questions about her age and experience. Her father’s attorney said Nathalia had accumulated more than 1,300 flight hours and had completed extensive training, including certification for the Learjet.

Kirk has strongly defended her qualifications, saying her opportunity to fly the aircraft came because of her abilities and professionalism.

“I PRAY THAT SHE CONTINUES TO FLY AMONGST THE CLOUDS”

For those who knew Nathalia, the loss is about much more than a tragic aviation accident.

She was a daughter who had dreamed of flying since childhood, a young woman who worked hard to turn that dream into a career, and a student whose natural talent left a lasting impression on her mentor.

Kirk ended his tribute with a deeply personal message:

“I pray that she continues to fly amongst the clouds in heaven. May she rest in peace and God watch over her.”

His words capture the heartbreak of losing someone he believed had an extraordinary future ahead of her.

At only 20, Nathalia had already accomplished what many aspiring pilots spend years working toward.

She had found her passion, earned her wings and begun building the career she had dreamed of since she was a child.

And while the investigation into the fatal crash continues, her instructor’s tribute ensures that she will also be remembered for the remarkable young pilot she was — not only for the tragedy that took her life.