“THE MOST NATURALLY GIFTED PILOT I EVER TAUGHT!” — FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR BREAKS DOWN IN HEARTBREAKING TRIBUTE TO 20-YEAR-OLD LEARJET CO-PILOT NATHALIA FILGUEIRAS

A heartbreaking tribute has emerged for 20-year-old pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, whose life was cut short when the private jet she was co-piloting crashed in Florida, claiming the lives of all nine people aboard.

As investigators continue working to establish what happened during the aircraft’s final moments, one person who knew Nathalia long before she became a professional pilot has come forward with an emotional message.

Chris Kirk, her former flight instructor and mentor, says that after four decades of teaching aspiring aviators, he had never encountered a student quite like her.

“She was without a doubt the most naturally gifted pilot I have ever taught, and I have been teaching for 40 years!” Kirk wrote in a tribute shared on social media.

“That young lady was born to fly!”

His words have touched many people, particularly as questions surrounding the young co-pilot’s experience have circulated following the devastating accident.

For Kirk, however, Nathalia was never simply a young woman who happened to work in aviation. She was someone with an extraordinary natural ability and a genuine passion for flying.

A YOUNG WOMAN WHO WAS BORN TO FLY

Nathalia’s love of aviation began when she was still a teenager.

She reportedly started taking flying lessons in 2020, with her father, Allan Filgueiras, who was also a pilot, helping nurture her interest.

By the age of 17, while many teenagers were still preparing for their driving tests, Nathalia had already earned her pilot’s licence.

She was determined to turn her childhood passion into a career.

Kirk recalled that she consistently impressed examiners during her flying assessments.

“There was not a check ride that the examiner was not blown away,” he wrote.

He also described how she had opportunities to fly different types of aircraft, including tailwheel planes and the Cessna Caravan.

One particular memory involved her training for a spin endorsement as part of her Certified Flight Instructor qualifications.

Kirk recalled that they performed so many spins during the training that he eventually started feeling nauseous.

It was a humorous memory, but one that demonstrated just how enthusiastic Nathalia had been about learning and developing her flying abilities.

THE EXAMINER THOUGHT SHE HAD 5,000 FLIGHT HOURS

Perhaps the most remarkable detail in Kirk’s tribute concerned Nathalia’s performance during her Learjet qualification.

According to her former instructor, she had fewer than 1,100 flight hours when she completed her Pilot-in-Command type rating assessment for the Learjet.

Despite her relatively limited time in the air compared with more experienced pilots, Kirk said she performed exceptionally well.

He recalled that the examiner was so impressed that they believed she had approximately 5,000 hours of flying experience.

A type rating is an additional qualification required to operate a particular aircraft type, such as the Learjet 60.

Kirk’s account was particularly significant because Nathalia’s young age had prompted questions about her qualifications following the crash.

He strongly defended her abilities, making it clear that he believed her talent, preparation and dedication deserved recognition.

He also expressed disappointment with what he described as a lack of genuine passion among some people entering pilot training.

In his view, Nathalia was different.

“She was PASSIONATE about flying!!!” he wrote.

“She was a 100 percent natural born pilot!!!”

He 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.”

THE FINAL FLIGHT THAT ENDED IN TRAGEDY

On Sunday, November 1, 2026, Nathalia was serving as co-pilot aboard a Learjet 60 travelling from Austin, Texas, towards the Bahamas.

The aircraft was carrying nine people, including Nathalia, the captain Jeff Gregory, 55, and members of a family travelling together.

Among the passengers were technology entrepreneur Adam Robinson, his wife Helen Sharp, their two young children, Emma, four, and Charlie, two, their nanny Anita Maria Cetina, and friends Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr.

The flight encountered serious difficulties near Palm Beach County, Florida.

Reports indicated that the aircraft experienced icing and turbulence before entering a rapid descent.

Air traffic control recordings captured Nathalia communicating with controllers as the situation deteriorated.

She reported the developing emergency and made increasingly urgent mayday calls.

In one of the final transmissions, she warned that the aircraft was going to crash into the ground.

The Learjet subsequently struck the ground in the Greenacres area, near Military Trail, resulting in a devastating impact and a large fire.

All nine people aboard lost their lives.

A person on the ground was also injured.

The crash left a significant scene of destruction, with aircraft debris scattered across nearby areas and damage affecting the surrounding community.

HER FINAL RADIO CALLS REVEAL THE FIGHT TO SAVE THE AIRCRAFT

As recordings of the aircraft’s final communications emerged, attention turned to Nathalia’s actions in the cockpit.

Some online discussions questioned aspects of the emergency communications, but people who knew her professionally have pushed back against criticism of the young pilot.

Her former instructor was among those who wanted the public to understand the person behind the final radio calls.

Jared Isaacman, a billionaire businessman and NASA administrator, also defended the importance of her role as second-in-command, pointing out that communicating with air traffic control during an emergency was part of her responsibility.

Her friend Mikaela Schluth also spoke about how difficult it had been to hear the recordings, while expressing pride in the way Nathalia communicated during the frightening situation.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the crash.

Although icing and turbulence have been reported as factors encountered during the flight, investigators have not established an official cause.

HER FATHER TAUGHT HER TO FLY — NOW HE MUST FACE LIFE WITHOUT HER

Behind the tributes from fellow aviators is an even more painful story: that of a father who shared his greatest passion with his daughter.

Allan Filgueiras introduced Nathalia to aviation when she was around 12 years old.

What began as a shared interest gradually became the centre of her life.

Her father remembered how excited she was when she realised she could earn a living doing something she loved.

She once expressed amazement that people were actually paying her to do something she would happily have paid to experience herself.

As the years passed, their relationship in the cockpit changed.

The father who had once taught her eventually found himself learning from her.

In an emotional public tribute, Allan described his daughter as his soulmate and spoke about the extraordinary bond they shared.

He also recalled their spontaneous trips together, including flights to places such as Key West and Naples simply to enjoy a coffee or something to eat.

Now, those ordinary moments have become memories he will carry for the rest of his life.

Speaking about the final recordings, Allan said he had listened to them repeatedly, trying to understand what had happened.

He expressed pride in his daughter’s determination during the emergency.

“She made me so proud,” he said. “She showed me what it is to be a hero.”

His family has also made clear that it wants Nathalia to be remembered for her life and achievements, rather than solely for the circumstances of her passing.

A LEGACY THAT GOES BEYOND HER FINAL FLIGHT

Nathalia Filgueiras was just 20 years old, with so much of her life and aviation career still ahead of her.

She had earned her pilot’s licence as a teenager, pursued professional qualifications and achieved a position that many aspiring aviators spend years working towards.

For Chris Kirk, she will remain the exceptionally talented student who stood out throughout his 40-year teaching career.

For her father, she will always be the little girl who first discovered the joy of flying beside him.

And for the aviation community, her story has become a reminder of the dedication, training and responsibility involved in a pilot’s profession.

As investigators continue examining the circumstances surrounding the Learjet crash, the families of all nine victims are left grieving lives lost far too soon.

Kirk’s final words capture the affection and admiration he felt for his former student.

A young woman who loved the skies, a daughter who shared her father’s passion, and a pilot whose journey ended far too early.

“THAT YOUNG LADY WAS BORN TO FLY.”

May Nathalia Filgueiras rest in peace.