A Routine Flight Turned Tragic: The Final Moments of a Learjet 60
On Nov. 1, a private jet traveling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, carrying a total of 9 occupants.
Captain Jeff Gregory, co-pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, Adam Robinson, Helen Sharp, their daughter Emma Robinson, their son Charlie Robinson, caregiver Anita Maria Cetina, family friend Rachael Reed, and family friend Charmi Fehr spent their last moments on this plane.
When the plane crashed, many onlookers and those who viewed the infamous dash-cam footage could only see a blur before a massive explosion lit up the street. A crater was left so deep that it hit a pipe beneath the pavement.
The crash has also left many residents of a trailer park looking for shelter, as the crater blocks the entrance to a mobile home park. Fortunately, residents are being evacuated to two shelters in Palm Beach County while the site is investigated. The crash site is a few miles away from the Donald J. Trump International Airport, and it crashed near Military Trail and Cresthaven Boulevard.
The cause of the crash is still being investigated; however, the suspected cause is a mixture of severe turbulence, inclement weather, and ice. The two-pilot crew encountered storms while descending from 41,000 ft to 35,000 ft. Due to the weather conditions, the crew requested air traffic control to climb to 37,000 ft. Unfortunately, the plane flew into a storm that was hurling rain as high as 48,000 ft.
As moisture forms into ice on an airplane, it can disrupt the airflow over a plane’s wings and tail, potentially causing a sudden loss of lift. Loss of lift happens when an airplane is no longer able to generate upward force to keep flying, causing the plane to descend.
The Learjet 60 entered a steep right-hand turn and descended rapidly. After 90 seconds, it hit the ground at 32,000 ft per minute. As the investigation continues, discussion surrounding the crash has spread. Many social media users have come up with theories on what may have happened.
After the events of the crash were posted online. Amongst the posts of sympathy, there were a few who criticized the co-pilot due to her being a woman. “You’ve been lied to that women can do anything a man can do and better. You’re not leaders, you’re followers,” posted ctsl99 on Instagram.
“I honestly think it is very sad and very tragic, but I don’t believe that the co-pilot should be blamed because she was trying to stay calm,” said sophomore Lorena Fortinez.
Captain Jeff Gregory has also been criticized for being in a similar situation five months before the crash on Nov. 1. He and his previous co-pilot were reprimanded by air traffic control for saying that their inability to maintain altitude was moderate and for climbing without permission. This would have caused an accident in the air. Online users saw this as negligent.
“Seeing that crash, I was scared since we go to school right next to an airport, and I wouldn’t want to see something like that happen here,” said sophomore Alyssa Fouquet.
This tragic accident has left many questions to be answered. With what is known so far, more evidence is needed for officials to make an official statement.
