Mother of 20-Year-Old Co-Pilot Who Died in Florida Plane Crash Opens Up About the Childhood Dream Behind Her Daughter's Final Flight

A mother is remembering the daughter who spent much of her young life chasing a dream of flying, only to lose her at just 20 years old in a devastating Florida plane crash.

Nathalia Filgueiras was among nine people killed when a private jet crashed in Palm Beach County on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Her mother, Camila Corteleti, later shared personal memories of the young pilot whose love of flying began in childhood.

Behind Nathalia's name in the reports of the tragedy was a young woman who had already made an unusual dream a reality. Her story began years before the fatal flight, with a determination that set her apart from other teenagers.

As investigators worked to understand what happened to the aircraft, details of Nathalia's short life revealed how deeply aviation had shaped her future. Her mother's recollections would offer an even more personal glimpse of what that dream meant to her.

What Happened Before the Jet Went Down?

The Learjet 60 crashed in Greenacres, Florida, killing both pilots and seven passengers.

TMZ identified the captain as 55-year-old Jeff Gregory, citing a family member. The outlet referred to his 20-year-old co-pilot as Nathalia Gadelha, while The New York Times (NYT), citing her mother, identified her as Nathalia Filgueiras.

On Monday, November 2, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) held a news conference addressing the circumstances surrounding the crash.

According to TMZ, ice began forming on the aircraft while it encountered moderate turbulence. The crew requested permission to climb from 35,000 feet to 37,000 feet shortly before declaring an emergency.

The reports did not establish what caused the crash. It also remained unclear which pilot was at the controls when the aircraft began to fall.

As news of the tragedy spread, false rumors also circulated that singer Lenny Kravitz had been aboard the jet.

His public relations representative, Carleen Donovan, denied the claims in an email to BocaNewsNow on Sunday night, writing, "the reports are untrue and incorrect."

For Nathalia, the flight marked a tragic end to a career she had worked toward since she was a child.

A 2023 Interview Reveals an Unusual Achievement

Just three years before her death, Nathalia was celebrating an achievement that made her stand out among her classmates.

In October 2023, CBS12 featured the 17-year-old West Boca Raton High School senior after she earned her private pilot's license before getting her driver's license.

While many teenagers were eager to get behind the wheel, Nathalia had already learned to take to the skies. "I definitely do brag because people say, 'oh you can't drive,' and I'm like, 'yeah but I can fly,'" she told CBS12.

Her excitement reflected years of dedication. She began ground school in 2020, before her sophomore year, and spent her teenage years studying aviation, practicing in flight simulators, and completing flight training.

The School District of Palm Beach County funded her private pilot's license through its Aviation Academy.

By the time of her interview, Nathalia had logged 88 hours of flight time and passed the knowledge test required for her license.

The Childhood Experiences That Shaped Her Future

Nathalia's dream began long before she enrolled in flight school. Her mother, Camila Corteleti, told the NYT that Nathalia developed her passion for aviation through her father, who flew recreationally.

As a young girl, she accompanied him on flights and spent time at Boca Raton Airport, watching planes take off and land.

Those childhood experiences left a lasting impression. By around 12 years old, Nathalia had already told her family that she wanted to become a pilot.

It was a dream she carried into her teenage years, even as she followed a path that was different from those of many classmates.

"I like being different than everyone," Nathalia told CBS12 in 2023. Her words now offer a glimpse of a young woman who was proud of the life she was building.

What Nathalia's Mother Said After the Crash

Behind Nathalia's licenses and flight hours was a childhood passion that had grown into something much bigger.

The November 1 crash ended a young life that had been closely tied to aviation, from afternoons watching airplanes at a local airport to working as a professional co-pilot.

For her mother, those memories remained part of the story of who Nathalia was.

Speaking to the NYT on November 2, Corteleti recalled the way her daughter experienced flying, offering a personal detail about the dream Nathalia had followed for much of her life. "She loved the freedom," Ms. Corteleti said. "It was completely different seeing the world from the top."