By Karim Hammam
A chartered Learjet 60 carrying nine people crashed Sunday in a residential area of Palm Beach County, Florida, killing everyone on board. The aircraft was en route from Austin, Texas, to North Eleuthera in the Bahamas for a weeklong birthday celebration for tech entrepreneur Adam Robinson, 45.
Victims Identified
The passengers included Robinson; his wife, Helen Sharp, 40; their children Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2; their nanny, Anita Maria Cetina; and family friends Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr. The two pilots, Jeffrey Gregory, 55, and Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, 20, also died.
Crash Details and Investigation
The jet nosedived less than 10 miles from Mar-a-Lago. Authorities said Tuesday that the plane's tail elevator was found scattered between 1.3 and 3.8 miles from the crash site, indicating it likely separated before impact. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating whether rainy weather, icing conditions, or moderate turbulence contributed. Pilots had encountered icing at about 35,000 feet and requested permission to climb to 37,000 feet. Less than 30 seconds later, a mayday call reported a descent rate of 20,000 feet per minute.
Background on Victims
Robinson was the founder and CEO of Retention.com and RB2B, technology companies that help businesses identify website visitors. Sharp was the CEO and founding partner of Influential PR and recently launched Helen Sharp Ceramics. Friends described Gregory as a devoted friend with a passion for flying and faith. The families of the seven passengers released a joint statement remembering the victims as devoted parents, joyful friends, and a dedicated caregiver.
