Nine people died after a private jet crashed and exploded on a highway in Florida on Sunday. The aircraft was travelling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas when it suddenly plunged towards the ground.
The plane was a Learjet 60. It struck a busy multi-lane highway before bursting into flames. All nine people on board lost their lives in the disaster.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash. Officials are examining whether ice or turbulence affected the aircraft. They are also checking if human error played a part in the accident.
The victims included a Texas technology entrepreneur, his wife, their two young children, three women and two flight crew members. Families and friends have begun sharing memories of those who died.
Adam Robinson, his wife Helen Sharp and their children, Emma, aged four, and Charlie, aged two, were among the victims. Their deaths were confirmed in a joint statement released by some of the affected families.
The family described Adam and Helen as loving and devoted parents. They said Emma and Charlie were the centre of their world.
“Helen and Adam were the love affair that will last forever,” the statement said. It also praised their kindness, warmth and ability to make people feel welcome.
Robinson had built a career in the technology sector. His LinkedIn profile listed him as the founder and chief executive of RB2B and Retention.com. He also served as chief executive of Moltsets.
Before entering the technology industry, he worked for Lehman Brothers and Barclays. Both firms have a long history in global finance.
His death has led to tributes from people who knew him through business and personal ties. Technology entrepreneur Jesse Ouellette shared a message about their friendship on LinkedIn.
Ouellette said Robinson had helped him while he was building his company. He described him as a close friend who shared his views on how to build software firms.
He also recalled Robinson’s ability to disagree with others without losing their respect or friendship. Ouellette said people often left such talks liking him even more.
Robinson’s final LinkedIn post appeared on Sunday. It was about a debate that he and Ouellette had planned for the next week.
Helen Sharp was an artist, according to media reports. Her father, Dudley Sharp, spoke about the loss of his daughter and grandchildren. He said the news had been a major shock to the family.
He confirmed that his daughter, her husband and their two children had been on the aircraft.
Rachel Reed, Charmi Fehr and Anita Maria Cetina were also among those killed. They were travelling with Robinson, Sharp and their children.
A joint family statement described Reed and Fehr as women who loved life and adventure. It said they cared deeply for their friends and family.
The statement also spoke of the close bond they shared and the life they were building together. Their exact connection to Robinson and Sharp was not clear in the first reports.
Cetina was remembered for her care and love for the two young children. The family said she looked after Emma and Charlie with great tenderness and devotion.
They also said she had become a true part of the family. Her kindness and care left a lasting mark on those who knew her.
The pilot was identified as 55-year-old Jeff Gregory. East Coast Jets, a private charter company where he had worked, confirmed that he was among those killed.
A company spokesperson said Gregory had worked for the firm for a short period in 2016 and 2017. The company expressed deep sadness over his death.
The copilot was identified by US media as 20-year-old Nathalia Filgueiras. She had earned her pilot’s licence at just 17 while she was still in high school.
Her mother, Camila Corteleti, confirmed her death. She said Nathalia loved flying and enjoyed the feeling of seeing the world from above.
In a 2023 interview with a local television station, Filgueiras spoke about earning her licence before finishing high school. She said she liked being different from others.
She also joked that some people found it strange that she could fly a plane but had not yet learned to drive a car with the same ease.
Her early success in aviation showed her strong interest in flying. Her death has added to the grief felt by her family and friends.
Investigators are still working to find out why the Learjet crashed. They are examining weather conditions, possible ice, turbulence and the role of the flight crew.
The final findings may help explain what caused the aircraft to lose control and strike the highway. For now, families are focused on mourning the nine victims and remembering the lives they shared.
