A tragic event occurred in Florida on November 1, when a Learjet 60 crashed nose-first into the ground, resulting in the deaths of at least nine people. Witnesses described the crash as sounding like a “meteor” hitting the ground, with flames lighting up the nearby area. Shortly after the crash, an audio recording of a distress call from the plane was released, where a woman could be heard calling for help, saying “Mayday, mayday!” The woman in the recording has been identified as Nathalia Gadelha, a 20-year-old co-pilot who gained attention for obtaining her pilot’s license while still in high school.
Gadelha, who lived in Palm Beach County where the crash took place, was confirmed to be on board the Learjet, which was traveling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas. Her mother and stepfather shared this information with The New York Post. Gadelha made news when she earned her pilot’s license at the age of 17, just before she could obtain a driver’s license. In a past interview, she mentioned her pride in being a pilot despite not being able to drive yet.
She started flying lessons in 2022 and was taught by her father, who began flying as a hobby in 2018. Gadelha had logged 88 hours of flight time and completed the necessary knowledge test. Her training was funded by the Aviation Academy of the School District of Palm Beach County. She expressed enjoyment in being different from others and mentioned her goal of becoming a commercial airline pilot someday.
While many on social media admired her accomplishments, some raised concerns about her limited flying experience. An audio clip of the communication between the crashed Learjet and Air Traffic Control was shared online. One user explained that while Learjets are not overly difficult to fly, their design requires precision and quick thinking. They suggested that Gadelha, being only 20 and without military training, might have struggled under pressure. Another user stated that they would feel uneasy about flying with a young co-pilot.
As the aircraft descended, Gadelha made repeated mayday calls before it fell into a mobile home park in Florida. In recordings from the cockpit, the pilot initially reported manageable conditions but soon reported they were rapidly descending. The plane reportedly dropped about 27,000 feet in just one minute before the crash. What are your thoughts on the challenges faced by young pilots?
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Source: Bored Panda, by Gabija Saveiskyte