Audio Reveals Pilot Reported Ice Before Mayday Call in Florida Plane Crash
Distress calls before the crash
The Learjet 60 was traveling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas when the pilot began reporting weather and turbulence problems, according to the FAA. Audio recordings capture the pilot saying they were managing ice shortly before declaring Mayday.
The pilot made multiple distress calls during severe weather. In one message, the pilot reported an overspeed condition and a descent of 20,000 feet per minute. The aircraft’s last data broadcast placed it at nearly 9,000 feet. It then descended at more than 32,000 feet per minute, about 363 mph.
Crew members identified
Several sources confirmed to CBS News that Nathalia Filgueiras, 20, was the co-pilot. She appeared in a 2023 report by CBS affiliate WPEC. A source with direct knowledge and a manifest obtained by CBS identified the captain as Jeffrey Gregory, 55.
Icing and aircraft breakup
Robert Sumwalt, a former National Transportation Safety Board chair and CBS News transportation safety expert, said regaining control can be very difficult after icing causes a loss of control. He said ice on wings can be fatal because it adds weight and disrupts airflow, affecting aerodynamic performance.
NTSB board member Tom Chapman said at a Monday afternoon news conference that there was some indication the aircraft was breaking apart before impact. He said investigators may find aircraft parts some distance from the impact site.
Key points
- The pilot reported managing ice before issuing a Mayday call.
- The Learjet 60 was flying from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas.
- Its final data showed a descent exceeding 32,000 feet per minute.
- Officials said severe weather may have contributed to the crash.