Crucial part of Florida Learjet found miles from crash site as investigators confirm jet broke apart mid-air
The tail section of Learjet 60 N722BD, whose co-pilot was heard screaming the jet was descending at 20,000 feet per minute in an overspeed condition before impact.Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras (left), the co-pilot, pictured with pilot Jeff Gregory, whose final recorded words were the Lord's Prayer as the Learjet plunged towards the ground.Dashcam footage of the Learjet 60's impact near West Palm Beach, as Transport Secretary Sean Duffy called the crash "a horrific tragedy.Adam Robinson, his wife Helen Sharp, and their children Emma and Charlie, who were among the nine killed; the crew had reported light icing and requested clearance to climb to 37,000 feet before issuing a mayday call less than 30 seconds later.
Investigators have found a key structural component of the doomed Learjet miles from the Palm Beach County impact site, confirming the aircraft was breaking apart before it hit the ground and killing all nine on board. The jet had departed Austin, Texas, bound for the Bahamas when co-pilot Nathalia Filgueiras, 20, declared mayday, reporting icing and turbulence that threw the plane 700 feet before it plunged at 20,000 feet per minute.
Chapman admitted that even with the elevator intact, the aircraft's speed may have made recovery impossible.
Among those killed were tech exec Adam Robinson, 44, his wife Helen Sharp, their children Emma, aged 4, and Charlie, aged 2, and pilot Jeff Gregory, 55.
By Tuesday, investigators had still not entered the impact crater; that work was scheduled for Wednesday, once the site is cleared.
