NASA chief slams crash conspiracy theories while defending 20-year-old Florida Learjet co-pilot
GREENACRES, FLORIDA: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has criticized online conspiracy theories surrounding the deadly Learjet 60 crash in Greenacres, Florida, which killed all nine people aboard. He also defended 20-year-old co-pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras against criticism of her age and final communications with air traffic control.
Isaacman, an experienced pilot with more than 8,000 flight hours, said he felt compelled to speak out after seeing posts blaming the Sunday, November 1, disaster on a missile strike and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). He also called out criticism directed at Filgueiras, who was communicating with air traffic control as the aircraft descended at an alarming rate.
Jared Isaacman defends 20-year-old co-pilot's final actions
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, Isaacman said the criticism of Filgueiras was particularly troubling. He explained that she was serving as the second-in-command and was carrying out her responsibilities by communicating with air traffic control during the emergency.
“She was the second-in-command (SIC) and while she was empowered to point out mistakes as part of good crew resource management, she was doing her job, communicating with [air traffic control] right to the end in a terrifying situation,” Isaacman wrote.
Writing this in my personal capacity, but I have been flying these types of aircraft for more than 20 years, with over 8,000 hours, and have reasonable familiarity with how the charter world operates. I feel compelled to post after seeing commentary about the Lear 60 crash, from missile strikes to DEI to critiquing this poor woman’s final radio calls. That last part is what I find most troubling. She was the second-in-command (SIC), and while she was empowered to point out mistakes as part of good crew resource management, she was doing her job, communicating with ATC right to the end in a terrifying situation. She likely knew before many of those calls that she was going to die. I have heard final calls from friends, from military pilots with thousands of hours in fighter aircraft, and they are just as heartbreaking because they know the end is approaching. I understand the public interest given the footage and audio. But you do not know the aircraft’s maintenance history, whether there was a structural failure, if any failure was induced by turbulence, overspeed, or overcontrol, or everything happening in that cockpit. I am sure weather will be part of the investigation, but beyond that, it is speculation. The charter industry routinely hires commercial pilots very early in their careers to gain experience alongside an ATP-qualified captain before they move up to the airlines. She would still have the appropriate training, qualifications, and checkouts by an FAA examiner or designee. Let people investigate, learn, and share the facts. Be respectful to those who perished and the families who carry their memories. God bless them and their loved ones.
— Jared Isaacman (@rookisaacman) November 2, 2026
He added that she likely knew she was facing a fatal situation before making some of her final radio calls.
Isaacman also pushed back against questions about her age and qualifications, noting that charter operators often pair less experienced commercial pilots with senior captains. He said Filgueiras held the necessary Federal Aviation Administration qualifications.
Jared Isaacman warns against speculation over crash footage and audio
The NASA administrator also addressed the viral dashcam footage and cockpit audio that emerged after the crash, acknowledging public interest in understanding what happened.
However, he cautioned that the available recordings do not provide enough information to determine the cause of the disaster.
BREAKING: New footage captures the aircraft crash in Greenacres, Florida. Preliminary information suggests the aircraft that crashed is a business jet. https://t.co/pMEsJerhgZ
— AZ Intel (@AZ_Intel_) November 1, 2026
“But you do not know the aircraft's maintenance history, whether there was a structural failure, if any failure was induced by turbulence, overspeed or overcontrol, or everything happening in that cockpit,” he said.
Heartbreaking audio of the final moments of the business jet that went down near Palm Beach, Florida: “Mayday! Mayday! We are going to crash into the ground!” https://t.co/KCWhAC7Yz4
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) November 2, 2026
Isaacman stressed that investigators must examine the aircraft's maintenance records, flight conditions and cockpit circumstances before reaching conclusions.
“Let people investigate, learn, and share the facts,” he wrote, urging people to respect the victims and their families.
NTSB examines weather and possible structural failure
The Learjet 60 was travelling from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas when it crashed in Greenacres on Sunday.
The aircraft had been flying at approximately 35,000 feet when the crew reported turbulence and icing to air traffic control. During the emergency, the co-pilot was heard reporting a rapid descent of more than 20,000 feet per minute.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has said severe weather may have played a significant role in the crash. Investigators also believe part of the aircraft may have broken off before impact.
The aircraft crashed near Military Trail, leaving a crater in the road and damaging nearby infrastructure. All nine people aboard, including co-pilot Filgueiras and Captain Jeff Gregory, 55, were killed.
Isaacman said weather conditions would likely be among the factors examined by federal investigators, but cautioned against drawing conclusions before the investigation is complete.
