“THE MOST NATURALLY GIFTED PILOT I EVER TAUGHT” — FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CHRIS KIRK, AFTER 40 YEARS OF TRAINING AVIATORS, HEARTBROKEN BY dєatᩚh OF 20-YEAR-OLD NATHALIA FILGUEIRAS

She was just 20 years old, but her passion for flying had already taken her further than many pilots could ever imagine.

Now, following a devastating private jet 𝔠r𝘢sh in Florida that claimed nine lives, a veteran flight instructor is remembering Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras as the most naturally gifted pilot he had ever taught in his 40-year career.

Chris Kirk, who helped train Nathalia during her early aviation journey, has shared an emotional tribute to the young woman whose life was built around the skies.

His words reveal not only her extraordinary ability, but also the determination, enthusiasm and personality that made her so special to the people who knew her.

“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 GIRL WHO EARNED HER PILOT’S LICENSE BEFORE HER DRIVER’S LICENSE

Nathalia’s love of aviation began at a remarkably young age.

Her father, Allan Filgueiras, was also a pilot and introduced her to flying when she was just 12 years old.

Rather than treating aviation as a childhood fascination, Nathalia turned it into a lifelong ambition.

She earned her pilot’s license while still attending high school, even before obtaining her driver’s license.

Her former instructor remembered her as a student who consistently impressed examiners during her flying assessments.

According to Kirk, there was rarely a check ride where an examiner was not amazed by her performance.

He recalled that Nathalia was exceptionally dedicated, putting in the hard work and long hours needed to develop her skills.

She eventually obtained the qualifications required to fly the Learjet 60.

During her Learjet training, she reportedly had fewer than 1,100 flight hours.

Yet her performance was so impressive that the examiner estimated she had approximately 5,000 hours of experience.

For Kirk, it was another example of a young woman whose natural ability was matched by an extraordinary passion for aviation.

THE STUDENT WHO MADE HER INSTRUCTOR FEEL SICK

Among Kirk’s most memorable recollections was Nathalia’s enthusiasm for aerobatic flying.

He remembered giving her opportunities to fly different aircraft, including tailwheel aircraft and the Cessna Caravan.

But one particular training session remained unforgettable.

While working toward her flight instructor qualifications, Nathalia completed repeated spins in Kirk’s Cessna 150 Aerobat.

She enjoyed the exercise so much that she kept asking for more.

Kirk eventually had to call an end to the session because the repeated spinning had made him nauseous.

He recalled:

“She absolutely loved spinning my little Cessna 150 Aerobat. Of course, she thought this was very funny because she made me sick.”

It was a small but revealing memory of a young pilot who genuinely loved what she was doing.

Kirk said Nathalia was not simply interested in becoming an airline pilot or earning a professional title.

She loved the experience of flying itself.

He remembered her as someone whose enthusiasm was infectious and whose dedication stood out among the students he had taught.

THE FINAL FLIGHT FROM TEXAS TO THE BAHAMAS

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

The aircraft had nine people aboard, including Nathalia, the senior pilot, Jeff Gregory, 55, and seven passengers.

During the flight, the aircraft encountered severe weather conditions.

Nathalia initially communicated concerns about ice accumulating on the aircraft as it encountered turbulence.

The situation quickly deteriorated.

Air traffic control recordings captured her reporting increasingly serious problems as the jet began descending rapidly.

She issued emergency calls, reporting that the aircraft was descending at approximately 10,000 feet per minute.

As the emergency escalated, she continued providing information about the aircraft’s condition and altitude.

At one point, she reported an overspeed condition while the aircraft was descending at an even greater rate.

Her final transmissions revealed just how desperate the situation had become.

“We’re going to 𝔠r𝘢sh into the ground,” she warned.

Moments later, the Learjet crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, 𝘬iᩚlling everyone aboard.

The aircraft struck an area near a residential neighborhood, leaving a devastating scene and a significant debris field.

HER INSTRUCTOR SAYS HER FINAL MOMENTS REVEALED HER PROFESSIONALISM

For Chris Kirk, the loss was deeply personal.

He told PEOPLE that Nathalia was a wonderful young woman who was respected and adored by the people who came into contact with her.

Reflecting on her final radio transmissions, he said he believed her professionalism was evident even as the aircraft faced an unimaginable emergency.

He also emphasized that her communications could provide investigators with important information about the final moments of the flight.

Kirk refused to speculate about the precise cause of the 𝔠r𝘢sh, saying that responsibility belonged to the National Transportation Safety Board.

He was particularly proud of the way she continued communicating with air traffic control.

“Because I was close to her, it ripped my heart out and left me with a deep feeling of emptiness,” he told PEOPLE.

He also shared a heartfelt message in his original tribute:

“I pray that she continues to fly amongst the clouds in heaven.”

HER FATHER’S HEARTBREAKING WORDS: “SHE SHOWED ME WHAT IT IS TO BE A HERO”

Nathalia’s father, Allan Filgueiras, has also spoken publicly about the loss of his daughter.

Allan, who helped introduce her to aviation, said he had repeatedly listened to the recordings of her final communications with air traffic control.

He described the experience as devastating, saying he wished he could have been beside her inside the aircraft to help.

But alongside his grief, he expressed enormous pride in how his daughter handled the emergency.

“She showed me what it is to be a hero,” he said.

He explained that Nathalia continued fighting and communicating until the final moments, despite the terrifying circumstances.

Her family has also spoken out against online criticism questioning whether someone so young was sufficiently experienced to serve as co-pilot on a high-performance private jet.

According to her family’s representatives, Nathalia had accumulated more than 1,300 flight hours and completed extensive training, including her Learjet certification.

Her father wanted people to remember her qualifications, dedication and achievements rather than judge her simply by her age.

For him, she was not just a young pilot.

She was his daughter, the child he had first taken flying at 12, and someone who had finally achieved the dream she had worked so hard to pursue.

NINE LIVES LOST IN THE FLORIDA tᩚraɢedy

Nathalia and senior pilot Jeff Gregory were among the nine people killed in the 𝔠r𝘢sh.

The passengers included technology entrepreneur Adam Robinson, his wife Helen Sharp, their two young children, their nanny Ana María Ramírez Cetina, and family friends Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr.

The tᩚraɢedy has left multiple families grieving and communities across different parts of the country mourning their loved ones.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the circumstances surrounding the 𝔠r𝘢sh.

Investigators are examining the aircraft, weather conditions, possible ice accumulation and other evidence to determine what caused the Learjet to lose control.

No final determination of the cause has been announced.

“THAT YOUNG LADY WAS BORN TO FLY”

For 40 years, Chris Kirk has taught people how to fly.

He has watched students develop, overcome challenges and pursue careers in aviation.

But Nathalia was someone he says he will never forget.

She was the young student who passed examinations with extraordinary results, loved performing spins in a small aircraft and approached flying with an enthusiasm that could not be taught.

At just 20, she had already achieved something she had dreamed about since childhood.

Her life ended far too soon, but the people who taught her, flew alongside her and loved her will remember the young woman behind the pilot’s uniform.

She was a daughter, a student, a colleague and a gifted aviator.

And in the words of the instructor who knew her best:

“That young lady was born to fly!”

May Nathalia and all eight other victims rest in peace. 🕊️