An X user questioned the age of Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, the 20-year-old co-pilot killed in a Florida plane crash, on 2 November, saying he would not board an aircraft with a pilot who was too young to buy alcohol in the United States.
The Learjet 60 crashed in Lake Worth Beach, Florida, on 1 November 2026, killing seven passengers and both crew members. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has not established what caused the accident, nor have they singled out Filgueiras in their investigation.
Filgueiras earned her private pilot certificate at 17 while attending West Boca Raton Community High School. Her mother, Camila Corteleti, said she had logged more than 1,300 flight hours. Her family identified her as one of the two crew members aboard the aircraft.
X user Compares Pilot's Age with US Drinking Law
I wouldn’t care if it was a 20yr old Sully, I’m not getting on that plane when the pilot isn’t even old enough to buy booze. That’s wild.
— Kaka (@ShockValueXX) November 2, 2026
An X account using the handle @ShockValueXX posted the criticism on Nov. 2, 2026. The account displayed the name Kaka in a screenshot of the post. 'I wouldn't care if it was a 20yr old Sully, I'm not getting on that plane when the pilot isn't even old enough to buy booze. That's wild,' the post read.
The reference to Sully appeared to refer to Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger, who landed US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River in New York in 2009 after both engines lost thrust following a bird strike. The screenshot showed 15,800 views and 233 likes when it was captured.
While the minimum legal drinking age in the United States is 21, it does not determine the minimum age for a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot certificate. Applicants may qualify for a private pilot certificate at 17 or a commercial pilot certificate at 18 if they meet the applicable requirements.
The X post expressed one user's opinion about flying with a young pilot. It did not establish that Filgueiras lacked the qualifications required for her role.
Co-pilot Earned Licence during High School
Filgueiras obtained her private pilot certificate in 2023 through an aviation programme at West Boca Raton Community High School. The Palm Beach County School District helped fund her training, which included work with flight simulators and drones.
Her mother, Camila Corteleti, said she had logged more than 1,300 flight hours. The Associated Press reported that her pilot certificate included a Learjet 60 rating but did not authorise her to act as pilot in command of the aircraft.
The aircraft was operated by Aurora Aviation, doing business as Upper Jet, the NTSB's investigation listing confirmed. The identity of the other pilot aboard the aircraft had not been publicly disclosed in the reporting available for this update.
There has been no official finding about which crew member was handling the controls when the aircraft began descending, and no findings have linked Filgueiras' age, training, or flight hours to the crash.
NTSB examines evidence of breakup before impact
The aircraft departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas for North Eleuthera in the Bahamas on Nov. 1. It crashed in Greenacres, in Palm Beach County, shortly before 1 p.m. local time.
Air traffic control recordings captured the crew reporting icing and turbulence while flying at approximately 35,000 feet. The crew requested permission to climb before reporting a rapid descent and declaring an emergency.
NTSB member Tom Chapman said investigators had found indications that the aircraft began breaking apart before impact. Investigators were examining debris found away from the main crash site and attempting to recover flight evidence from the wreckage.
Weather conditions were among the subjects under investigation, but officials had not determined whether icing or turbulence contributed to the accident.
As of 3 November, the NTSB investigation remained open.
