NFL running back Joe Mixon has shared an emotional tribute to the nine people killed in the Florida Learjet crash after making a shocking discovery: he had flown on the very same aircraft, accompanied by the same two pilots, just weeks before the disaster.
The two-time Pro Bowl star, 30, said he was “absolutely devastated” after learning about the November 1 crash. In a heartfelt post on X on Tuesday, the former Cincinnati Bengals player recalled his experience with the crew and praised their professionalism and kindness.
“I flew on that exact aircraft last month with those same two pilots,” Mixon wrote. “They were incredible professionals and genuinely wonderful people.”
Absolutely devastated by yesterday’s tragic plane crash in Florida and the loss of all nine lives. I flew on that exact aircraft last month with those same two pilots. They were incredible professionals and genuinely wonderful people. Hearing the young woman’s story and learning…
— ⚡️Primetime!!!⚡️ (@Joe_MainMixon) November 2, 2026
He also paid particular tribute to 20-year-old co-pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, whose story had deeply affected him.
“Hearing the young woman’s story and learning about the bright future she had ahead of her makes it even more heartbreaking that her life was cut so short,” he added.
Mixon extended his prayers to the families of all nine victims, describing the tragedy as a “tragic reminder of how fragile life is.”
“Love on your loved ones while you can, because you never know what tomorrow may bring,” he wrote.
Mixon Remembers the Two Pilots He Had Flown With
Filgueiras was serving as co-pilot alongside 55-year-old pilot Jeff Gregory when the Learjet 60 departed Austin, Texas, on its way to the Bahamas.
The aircraft went down in Palm Beach County, Florida, killing everyone aboard. Mixon’s revelation that he had recently travelled with the same crew brought a deeply personal dimension to his reaction.
His tribute also drew attention to Filgueiras’ remarkable achievements at such a young age.
Raised in Palm Beach County, she made local headlines in October 2023 after earning her private pilot’s licence at just 17, while still in high school and before she had obtained a driving licence.
By the time of her death, she had been working as a commercial pilot for nine months and had accumulated approximately 1,300 flight hours, her grieving family told The Post.
Final Moments of the Learjet Flight
The Learjet’s crew had requested to climb to approximately 37,000 feet in an attempt to get above bad weather. However, they reported icing and turbulence before the aircraft entered a steep descent, plunging at more than 20,000 feet per minute.
The jet eventually crashed into a mobile home park in Palm Beach County, bringing down power lines and carving a huge crater into the ground.
Dashcam footage captured the aircraft descending nose-first toward a South Florida neighbourhood. The impact left debris scattered across the area, including a visible imprint from one of the aircraft’s wings on a nearby street.
Air traffic control recordings have also provided a disturbing glimpse into the final moments. Filgueiras can reportedly be heard screaming as she communicated with a controller shortly before the crash, while Gregory is heard reciting the Lord’s Prayer in the final seconds.
Around 10 minutes before the disaster, Filgueiras had also texted her boyfriend, Justin, telling him the aircraft had encountered turbulence and was dealing with icing.
Nine People Killed in the Crash
The victims included technology entrepreneur Adam Robinson, 44, his wife, Helen Sharp, and their two young children, Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2. Robinson’s brother confirmed the deaths on Monday.
The family’s friends, Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr, were also among those killed, along with their nanny, Anita Maria Apellido Cetina.
All nine people aboard the Learjet died when it crashed.
Investigators Continue to Examine What Went Wrong
Federal investigators have yet to establish what caused the aircraft to plummet.
At a news conference on Monday, the National Transportation Safety Board said the Learjet had been flying through extremely cold conditions, with temperatures reported at approximately minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Investigators also confirmed that the aircraft appeared to have begun breaking apart before impact, scattering debris over an area roughly half a mile in radius.
Another unanswered question is whether the Learjet was equipped with a cockpit voice recorder and, if so, whether the device survived the crash.
As the investigation continues, Mixon’s tribute serves as a reminder that the tragedy has touched people far beyond the families and friends of those who died. For the NFL star, the loss is especially personal: just weeks earlier, he had shared a flight with the pilots whose professionalism and kindness he now remembers.