“THAT YOUNG LADY WAS BORN TO FLY!” — AFTER 40 YEARS OF TEACHING PILOTS, INSTRUCTOR CHRIS KIRK SAYS 20-YEAR-OLD NATHALIA FILGUEIRAS WAS THE MOST NATURALLY GIFTED STUDENT HE EVER TAUGHT

She was only 20 years old, but to the people who taught her to fly, Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras was already an extraordinary pilot.

Now, following the devastating Florida plane 𝔠r𝘢sh that claimed her life and the lives of eight others, her former flight instructor is remembering the young woman whose natural talent, determination and love of aviation left an unforgettable impression on him.

Chris Kirk, a veteran flight instructor with four decades of teaching experience, shared an emotional tribute to Nathalia on social media. His words were filled with admiration for a student he described as one of the most gifted pilots he had ever encountered.

“She was without a doubt the most naturally gifted pilot I have ever taught, and I have been teaching for 40 years!!” Kirk wrote.

“That young lady was born to fly!”

A DREAM THAT STARTED LONG BEFORE MOST PEOPLE LEARN TO DRIVE

Nathalia’s passion for aviation began when she was still a child.

Her father, Allan Filgueiras, introduced her to flying when she was just 12 years old. What started as a childhood experience soon became a lifelong dream.

By the age of 17, Nathalia had already earned her private pilot’s license while still in high school — before she even had a driver’s license.

She was determined to build a career in aviation, and those who trained her quickly recognized that she possessed something special.

Kirk recalled how she consistently impressed examiners during her flight evaluations. When she completed her Learjet 60 pilot-in-command qualification in March 2026, her performance was so impressive that the examiner reportedly believed she had approximately 5,000 hours of flight experience.

In reality, she had logged fewer than 1,100 hours.

For Kirk, that achievement spoke volumes about her ability.

He also remembered giving her opportunities to fly different types of aircraft, including tailwheel airplanes and the Cessna Caravan. During her instructor training, they practiced so many spins that he joked he began feeling nauseated.

But what made Nathalia stand out was not simply her technical ability.

It was her passion.

Kirk said she genuinely loved flying, unlike some trainees he encountered who seemed more focused on reaching the airlines and earning a high salary than on the experience of aviation itself.

Nathalia, he emphasized, was different. She loved being in the air.

THE FINAL FLIGHT THAT ENDED IN tᩚraɢedy

On November 1, 2026, Nathalia was serving as co-pilot aboard a Learjet 60 traveling from Austin, Texas, toward the Bahamas.

The aircraft crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, 𝘬iᩚlling all nine people aboard, including Nathalia, the pilot Jeff Gregory, and seven passengers.

Among the passengers were technology entrepreneur Adam Robinson, his wife Helen Sharp, their two young children, their nanny Anita Maria Cetina, and friends Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr.

Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the 𝔠r𝘢sh, including severe weather, turbulence and ice reported by the flight crew.

During the final minutes of the flight, Nathalia communicated with air traffic control, reporting changing weather conditions and problems with the aircraft.

As the situation deteriorated, she issued urgent emergency calls, reporting that the aircraft was descending rapidly.

Her final radio transmissions are now an important part of the investigation into what happened.

The National Transportation Safety Board has not yet determined the cause of the 𝔠r𝘢sh.

HER INSTRUCTOR REMEMBERS MORE THAN A TALENTED PILOT

For Chris Kirk, Nathalia was not simply another student who passed through his flight school.

She was someone whose ability and enthusiasm made a lasting impression.

In his tribute, he praised her performance during training and remembered how examiners were repeatedly impressed by her skills.

He described her as a “100% natural born pilot” and ended his message with a heartfelt prayer that she would continue flying among the clouds.

The tribute was accompanied by a photograph of Kirk and Nathalia smiling together inside a cockpit — a moment that now carries a heartbreaking meaning for those who knew her.

A FATHER’S PRIDE IN THE DAUGHTER WHO FOLLOWED HIS DREAM

Nathalia’s love of flying was also at the center of her relationship with her father.

Allan Filgueiras helped introduce her to aviation, but as she grew older, she developed into a highly accomplished pilot in her own right.

In an emotional interview after the 𝔠r𝘢sh, Allan recalled how happy his daughter had been when she began earning a living doing what she loved.

He remembered her telling him that she could hardly believe she was being paid to fly — something she would have happily paid to do herself.

He also spoke about listening repeatedly to her final radio transmissions, trying to understand what happened while feeling immense pride in how she responded during the emergency.

He said he intends to continue flying, carrying on the legacy they built together.

For her family, friends and instructors, Nathalia’s story is about more than a young life lost in a tragic 𝔠r𝘢sh. It is the story of a girl who discovered her dream early, worked tirelessly to reach it and inspired the people fortunate enough to watch her take flight.

She was just 20 years old.

But, as the instructor who taught pilots for 40 years put it, Nathalia was born to fly.