Florida plane crash: Tributes flow for passengers of Lear60 as all victims formally identified by officials
The nine victims of a horrific plane crash in the US have been formally identified, as investigators reveal new details about the doomed flight.
The nine victims of the horrific plane crash have been formally identified by officials as tributes continue to flow for the group.
On November 1, Adam Robinson, Helen Sharp, and their children, Emma and Charlie; friends Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr; and nanny Anita Maria Cetina were travelling from Austin, Texas to the Bahamas on a plane piloted by Jeffrey Gregory and co-pilot Nathalia Filgueiras.
The Learjet 60 nosedived into the ground near West Palm Beach and erupted into a fireball, killing all those onboard.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.On Wednesday, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the identities of the nine people, adding that the collection of human remains at the site was ongoing, CBS12 wrote.
The FBI, the violent crime division and crime scene unit from the sheriff’s office, the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office, and forensic scientists worked together to identify the victims.
The identification comes as tributes to the nine people flow online.
‘Made me a better person’
A GoFundMe has been established for the family of pilot Jeffrey Gregory, 55.
Organiser Thomas Noetzel said funds would support the pilot’s wife and young daughters.
“Jeff was also a personal friend, and knowing him has made me a better person,” he wrote in the fundraiser’s description.
“This fundraiser is to help support Jeff’s family through these rough times.”
In one day it has made more than $US21,000 ($A29,982).
Charter aviation company East Coast Jets paid tribute to their former employee in a statement on their website.
“We are deeply saddened to learn that Captain Jeff Gregory was among those who lost their lives in yesterday’s tragic aviation accident in Palm Beach,” a spokesperson wrote.
“Jeff was a former member of the East Coast Jets team, having worked with us briefly in 2016 and 2017 before pursuing other opportunities.
“Our prayers go out to Jeff’s family, his fellow crew member, the passengers and everyone affected by this heart breaking tragedy.”
‘Forever loved, forever missed’
Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr are being remembered for their kindness and generosity.
The adventure-loving couple owned Arca Boutique Hotel, a four-star hotel off the coast of Honduras, since 2023.
The hotel shared a touching tribute to the pair on Instagram, writing that “they were family” to employees.
“They were far more than the owners of Arca Boutique Hotel,” a spokesperson wrote.
“They were the heart behind a beautiful dream, whose kindness, generosity, and genuine love for people touched everyone fortunate enough to know them.
“Their passing leaves an emptiness that words cannot express, but the memories we shared, the lessons they taught us, and the love they gave will remain with us forever.”
The hotel said the couple’s legacy would live on and that they would be “forever loved (and) forever missed”.
Families unite to pay tribute to loved ones
Earlier this week, the family of the passengers onboard shared a heartfelt statement on social media, paying tribute to their loved ones.
They said Adam and Helen, both entrepreneurs, were “devoted parents” to four-year-old Emma and two-year-old Charlie, who were “the light of their lives”.
“Helen and Adam were the love affair that will last forever,” the post read.
“Their warmth, generosity and gift for making people feel welcome touched so many lives.
“Their loss will be felt deeply by all those who loved them and who they loved in return.”
The children’s nanny, Anita Maria, was travelling with the family and was described as caring for the Robinsons with “tenderness and devotion”.
“She was truly part of the family; she showed us a legacy of unconditional love and devotion,” the post said.
The other two passengers, Rachael and Charmi, were described as being “full of joy and adventure”.
“They loved their people fiercely, fully and without hesitation,” the families said of the couple.
“From the moment they met, they were all in on each other and the life they were building.
“They are deeply loved, and we will miss them endlessly.”
While asking for privacy, the family paid tribute to the first responders, investigators, and the Palm Beach community for the love and support they had received.
“Our hearts are also with the families of the pilots, who are grieving alongside us,” they continued.
Pilot had no chance to save doomed flight
Investigators have found part of the tail of the jet that crashed in South Florida more than two kilometres from where it slammed into the ground and burst into flames.
National Transportation Safety Board member Tom Chapman said during a news conference on Tuesday that the discovery of tail parts confirmed the plane was breaking apart before it hit the ground.
Chapman said the tail’s elevator was broken into three parts, and without that intact, the pilot would not have been able to pull the Learjet out of its nose dive.
“The function of the elevator is to control the pitch up and down,” he said on Monday.
“At those speeds I don’t know that it would’ve been effective even if it had still been attached to the aircraft, but knowing that it was lost is a very important piece of evidence in terms of pointing us towards other things to investigate.”
Chapman acknowledged that parts of the jet started to break off before it struck the ground and said weather would also be a key focus of the investigation.
‘Get-there-itis’
As investigations into the horrific crash continue, one aviation expert has come forward to suggest that the pilots may have had a case of “get-there-itis”.
Aviation expert Justin Crabbe, a veteran pilot and CEO of a charter-flight booking platform, told the New York Post that he believes the flight was doomed.
“They certainly should have gone around (the storm),” he said.
“(Air-traffic control) gave them the flexibility to deviate around that weather.”
While Mr Crabbe said he did not know the pilots, he assumed they were eager to get to their destination.
“It’s a theory called ‘get-there-itis,’ and flight schools teach you this very early on,” he said.
“It’s a risk factor. You have to sit back as a pilot and understand what is pushing you to do this trip, this manoeuvrer, this journey in a way that may compromise the safety of the flight.”
Admitting that the two pilots would have been under an extraordinary amount of pressure at the time, Mr Crabbe said they had two options: ascend to get clearer air but risk a stall, or brave the storm and risk ice build-up.
