Friend reacts to Learjet co-pilot Nathalia Filgueiras’ haunting last words before deadly crash

A longtime friend of the 20-year-old co-pilot of the Learjet that crashed in Florida on Sunday has spoken out about hearing her pal’s haunting final words.

The co-pilot — 20-year-old Nathalia Filgueiras — gave a desperate mayday call to air traffic control after the Learjet 60 started dropping over Palm Beach County, Florida, and began to nosedive.

Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras (left) and her friend Mikaela Schluth appear in an undated photo. Mikaela Schluth
Filgueiras was the co-pilot of a Learjet 60 that crashed on Nov. 1, which was en route from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas — killing all nine on board. Threads/Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras

“722 Bravo Delta, we’re descending 8,000 Mayday, Mayday, we’re descending 10,000 feet per minute!” Filgueiras called over the radio.

“It was definitely, probably the worst thing I’ve ever heard,” Mikaela Schluth, who knew Filgueiras since middle school, told CBS Mornings.

The Learjet 60 erupts into a fireball. Aki Kuusisto via Storyful

The terrified co-pilot kept updating ATC on their speed and altitude before declaring they were about to “crash into the ground” and were “out of time” — moments before the jet exploded on the ground.


Here’s the latest on the fatal Learjet crash in Florida


“I’m just so proud of how she handled it and was able to stay calm and give information,” Schluth told the outlet, praising her friend’s professionalism while facing mortal danger.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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