Florida Learjet plane crash cut their love story short: They met at a hostel in Peru, fell in love and opened a hotel in Caribbean. Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr's story

Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr's relationship began with a chance meeting at a hostel in Peru and eventually took them to the Caribbean, where they built a life and a hotel business together. After years of travelling between the United States and the island of Roatán, the couple's journey came to a tragic end when they died in a Learjet crash in Florida on November 1.

According to Business Insider, Reed and Fehr were travelling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas aboard a private Learjet 60 with tech entrepreneur Adam Robinson and his family. The aircraft crashed near Greenacres in Palm Beach County, killing all nine people on board.

In a joint statement reported by the BBC, their families remembered them as a couple who shared a love of adventure.


“Charmi and Rachel were full of joy and adventure. They loved their people fiercely, fully and without hesitation. 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,” the statement read.

A love story that began in Peru

Reed met Fehr during a solo trip to Peru in 2019. Fehr, who was visiting from Paraguay, crossed paths with her at a hostel. Travel blogger Madison Krigbaum, whose account was cited by Business Insider, described their meeting as "love at first sight". Fehr would later become Reed's fiancé.

Their shared love for travelling eventually brought them to Roatán, an island off Honduras' northern coast. Reed had first visited the island as a teenager, around the age of 15, when her mother was involved in nonprofit work and helped build a school there. She continued returning several times a year.

How Covid changed their plans

In November 2019, Reed and Fehr travelled to Roatán with their poodle, Marlie. Their planned short visit extended after the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted international travel.

The couple spent months on the island, enjoying boating, fishing and getting to know their neighbours. In a blog post written during that period, Reed described the community spirit they experienced.

"We take care of each other," she wrote. "We bake bread for one another."

Although they eventually returned to the United States, they continued splitting their time between the two places.

Building a hotel on their favourite island

In 2023, the couple took their connection to Roatán further by becoming owners of Arca Boutique Hotel, a 16-room beachfront property.

Business Insider reported that Reed and Fehr focused on sustainability, introducing energy-efficient lighting, eliminating single-use straws and food containers, and working with tour operators committed to protecting the island.

Reed also personally helped guests arrange massages and discover local restaurants and bars, according to a review of the property published by Wanderluxe.

Following their deaths, Arca Boutique Hotel paid tribute to the couple on Facebook. "They were family," the hotel wrote, describing Reed and Fehr as people who had inspired the team and helped create something special.

Reed's career before the Caribbean

Reed had also worked as a critical care nurse after graduating from the University of Central Oklahoma. She later established BrowBabe, a microblading studio in Oklahoma City.

Former colleague Whitney Pyle told Business Insider that Reed was particularly kind to patients and their families during difficult moments.

"That's very hard to see," Pyle said. "What once she gave to patients and their families, now her family is going through."

Meanwhile, The Independent reported that investigators were examining whether the Learjet began breaking apart before impact, with weather conditions a major focus of the investigation.