Family of 20-year-old copilot looking for answers on why her jet plummeted to Earth killing 9

The family of a 20-year-old co-pilot killed in Sunday’s fatal Learjet crash in Palm Beach County has praised her as a "tough and professional" aviator as they search for answers about the disaster that claimed nine lives.Allan Filgueiras, father of co-pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, spoke at a Friday news conference with attorney Stuart Grossman of the Coral Gables law firm Grossman, Yaffa & Cohen, who is representing the family. Pointing to his daughter’s final radio transmissions reporting icing and severe turbulence, Filgueiras emphasized her composure under extreme stress during the flight’s final moments.The Learjet 60 was traveling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas when it plunged to the ground near Greenacres around 12:51 p.m.Recalling his daughter's dedication to aviation, Filgueiras shared a memory of her excitement over her career: “She said, Dad, can you believe, can you believe that I would pay for this, but they are actually paying me! You know, I would pay this, but I’m actually getting paid, so it was her happiest moment to fly.”The family of Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, a 20-year-old co-pilot who died in Sunday’s Learjet crash in Palm Beach County, praised her skill and composure as they seek answers on what caused the disaster that killed nine people (AP)Filgueiras expressed his ongoing grief and desire to support the rest of his family.“She made me so proud, she showed me what it is to be a hero,” he said. “I wanted to be by her side, and fly the plane to help her, to be by her. I had to be next to her.”Gadelha Filgueiras earned her pilot’s license at 17 years odl and was working toward a career as a commercial airline pilot. Pointing to her extensive record despite her young age, Grossman pointed out that her qualifications far exceeded typical expectations.“You read that someone is 20 years old and a co-pilot in a jet plane, you say, how can this be?” Grossman said. “Wait until you see her hours, and what the government proves about her capabilities and what her instructors had to say. She was really special.” Gadelha Filgueiras earned her pilot’s license at 17 and was working toward a career as a commercial airline pilot (Threads/itsnatfilg)Before the crash, Gadelha Filgueiras notified air traffic control that the aircraft was encountering severe icing and turbulence as it approached a storm system. “We’re descending 8,000 - mayday, mayday,” Gadelha Filgueiras radioed in audio obtained by Sky News and CNN. “We’re descending 10,000 feet per minute.”“We are in an overspeed condition descending 20,000 feet per minute ,” she continued. “We’re going to crash into the ground.”Federal investigators continue gathering evidence near Greenacres, Florida, as local authorities warn site clearance could take up to 30 days (AP)Around 35 seconds after that initial mayday call, she said: “We’re out of time.”The plane went down moments after the transmission.Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board remain at the scene and reported recovering a portion of one of the aircraft's engines on Thursday. Local authorities noted that site clearance could take up to 30 days, leaving nearby residents and businesses facing continued access restrictions.NTSB officials have not yet determined what caused the crash.