NASA chief defends 20-year-old co-pilot over harrowing final audio before Florida plane crash
The head of NASA has defended the 20-year-old co-pilot of the plane involved in a fatal crash in Florida on Sunday.
Nine people were on the plane, including two crew members and seven passengers, none of whom survived the crash in Florida on 1 November.
The plane's co-pilot has now been identified as Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, who had got her pilot's license while she was still in high and was just 20 years old.
Since then, the Palm Beach Post has reported that the passengers on the plane have been identified as 44-year-old businessman Adam Robinson, his wife Helen, their two children, two of their friends and a nanny.
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As news of the tragedy spread, some of the final radio broadcasts from the plane have also been shared, which included Filgueiras speaking to air traffic control.
Now, the administrator of NASA has stepped in to defend Filgueiras as posts began to circulate about her online.
Jared Isaacman is a billionaire businessman who is currently serving as the administrator for NASA, the highest ranking official in the organisation, and took to social media.
Clarifying that he was 'writing this in my personal capacity', he said: "I have been flying these types of aircraft for more than 20 years, with over 8,000 hours, and have reasonable familiarity with how the charter world operates."
Isaacman said that he felt 'compelled' to weigh in 'after seeing commentary', which included people 'critiquing this poor woman’s final radio calls'.
"That last part is what I find most troubling," he wrote. "She was the second-in-command (SIC), and while she was empowered to point out mistakes as part of good crew resource management, she was doing her job, communicating with ATC right to the end in a terrifying situation."
He continued: "She likely knew before many of those calls that she was going to die.
"I have heard final calls from friends, from military pilots with thousands of hours in fighter aircraft, and they are just as heartbreaking because they know the end is approaching."
Isaacman went on to say that an investigation is currently ongoing and there are many factors in what could have happened in the lead up to the tragedy which have not yet been explored, and which may form a part of the investigation.
He added: "The charter industry routinely hires commercial pilots very early in their careers to gain experience alongside an ATP-qualified captain before they move up to the airlines.
"She would still have the appropriate training, qualifications, and checkouts by an FAA examiner or designee."
Isaacman concluded: "Let people investigate, learn, and share the facts. Be respectful to those who perished and the families who carry their memories. God bless them and their loved ones."
In a press conference on 2 November NTSB Member Tom Chapman said: "The crew transmitted that they were at 35,000 feet with moderate turbulence with altitude deviations of about 700 feet.
"The crew reported the outside temperature was -47 Celsius, which is -53 Fahrenheit, and they were managing the ice but were in moderate turbulence."
He continued: "Very soon after the crew transmitted 'we are picking up precipitation requesting to climb to 37,000 feet if able', which was approved by FAA air traffic control.
"Less than 30 seconds later a transmission from the aeroplane announced the descent followed by a Mayday call about 12:48 Eastern, the aeroplane transmitted 'we are in an overspeed condition descending' with the rest unintelligible.
"Subsequent communications described that the aeroplane was descending rapidly and gave an altitude callout. Sadly all aboard were lost."
Kit Roberts