Charter Company Breaks Its Silence After Private Jet Plunges From the Sky, Killing Nine People

The company connected to a private jet that crashed in South Florida, killing all nine people aboard, has spoken publicly for the first time as investigators work to determine what caused the aircraft to plunge from the sky.

Upper Jets, the company that owned the Learjet 60, confirmed that it is cooperating with local, state and federal authorities following the November 1, 2026, disaster in Palm Beach County, Florida.

In a statement to PEOPLE, the company’s director of operations, Thomas Noetzel, expressed condolences to the victims’ families and said the company was committed to supporting those affected.

The company said further information about the crash would come from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and other investigating authorities. It did not offer an explanation for what caused the aircraft to go down.

Pilot reported dangerous conditions before the crash

The Learjet departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was headed to the Bahamas when the disaster occurred at approximately 12:50 p.m. local time.

According to air traffic control recordings, the crew reported icing conditions and moderate turbulence while flying at approximately 35,000 feet. The pilots later reported precipitation and requested permission to climb to a higher altitude.

The situation deteriorated rapidly. The aircraft began descending at an extreme rate, and the crew reported an overspeed condition before declaring an emergency.

In the final moments, the pilot reportedly warned air traffic control that the plane was going to crash into the ground.

The aircraft struck a residential area near Greenacres, Florida, and erupted into flames. All nine people aboard were killed. One person on the ground sustained a minor injury, according to investigators.

Nine lives lost in the tragedy

Among the victims were technology entrepreneur Adam Robinson, 44, his wife Helen Sharp and their two young children, Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2.

Their family friends, Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr, were also aboard, along with the family’s nanny, Anita Maria Apellido Cetina.

The two pilots were identified as Captain Jeff Gregory, 55, and co-pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, 20.

Filgueiras had earned her pilot’s license at just 17 and had accumulated more than 1,300 flight hours. Her family remembered her as someone who loved flying and dreamed of pursuing a career in aviation.

The families released a joint statement remembering the victims for their warmth, generosity and devotion to one another. They also asked for privacy as they grieve.

Investigators face a difficult search for answers

The NTSB is leading the investigation with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration. Investigators are examining the wreckage, flight information, weather conditions, maintenance records and communications between the pilots and air traffic controllers.

Although the crew reported icing and turbulence before the crash, authorities have not established that either condition caused the disaster. The investigation remains ongoing, and no official probable cause has been announced.

For the families, the loss extends far beyond the destruction of an aircraft. Nine people who had been traveling together never made it to their destination. As Upper Jets pledges to cooperate with investigators, the central question remains unanswered: what happened during the final minutes of the flight?

Sources: PEOPLE