Who was the female pilot of the Learjet that plunged 30,000 feet per minute before crashing in Florida?

A business jet carrying nine people plunged towards the ground before crashing into a South Florida neighbourhood on Sunday, erupting into a massive fireball. The aircraft had departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was headed to the Bahamas, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). However, authorities have not yet disclosed the identities of the people aboard the aircraft or determined what caused the crash.

The plane was flying east at 35,000 feet (about 10.7 kilometres) when the crew reported turbulence, icing and precipitation and requested permission to climb another 2,000 feet (about 610 metres). “We have light, clear ice that is manageable and moderate turbulence,” the pilot told controllers.

Moments later, the aircraft entered a steep descent. Its descent rate reportedly increased from 10,000 feet per minute to 20,000 feet per minute and eventually reached approximately 30,000 feet per minute, according to air traffic control recordings and flight-tracking data. “We’re descending 8,000 – mayday, mayday - we’re descending 10,000 feet per minute,” the pilot radioed.


But the situation rapidly deteriorated. After encountering precipitation and requesting to climb, the pilot declared an emergency as the aircraft began losing altitude at an alarming rate. “We are in an overspeed condition descending 20,000 feet per minute,” the pilot radioed, before delivering a devastating acknowledgment of what was about to happen. “We’re going to crash into the ground.”

A pilot declared an emergency and issued distress calls as the aircraft descended. The jet then banked sharply to the right before crashing.

Who was the female pilot aboard the Learjet?

Although authorities have not released the names of the pilots or passengers, two women's names have circulated on social media in connection with the crash: Alexandra Dudgeon and Nathalia Filgueiras.

Alexandra Dudgeon's name began circulating online amid claims that she may have been serving as the second-in-command aboard the Learjet. Dudgeon was reportedly associated with aviation company Upper Jets, while her LinkedIn profile identifies her as an LR-60 Pilot SIC (Second-in-Command). Social media users also pointed to an aircraft photograph on her profile, claiming that it carried the same registration number as the crashed Learjet.

However, Dudgeon denied any involvement in the accident. "To everyone reaching out and posting my LinkedIn profile all over social media, I was not involved in the accident. Thank you for checking in," she said in a statement, as per a report in the Times of India.

Why is Nathalia Filgueiras' name circulating?

Another name being mentioned in online discussions is Nathalia Filgueiras, a young pilot who attracted attention after earning her private pilot's licence at the age of 17 while still in high school.

Filgueiras reportedly obtained her licence in September 2023 after completing 88 hours of flight training. The School District of Palm Beach County supported her training through its Aviation Academy. As per reports, she had previously expressed aspirations of becoming a commercial airline pilot or flying private jets.

Following the Learjet crash, her name resurfaced on social media alongside claims linking her to the aircraft. However, no official information has established that she was aboard the jet.

What do authorities know about the Learjet crash?

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have confirmed that nine people were aboard the aircraft. However, as of November 2, 2026, neither agency has publicly released their identities. Authorities are also examining the circumstances surrounding the aircraft's sudden descent, including the crew's communications with air traffic control in the minutes before the crash. The recordings and flight-tracking data are expected to provide important clues about the emergency and the crew's attempts to regain control of the aircraft.

For now, the identities of the pilots and passengers remain unconfirmed.