Pro Bowl NFL star Joe Mixon has revealed that he recently flew on the exact same Learjet that fell out of the sky and killed all nine people on board in a tragic crash in Palm Beach on Sunday.
The football star, 30, made the remarkable admission in a poignant social media post, paying tribute to the same pilots that had safely guided him to his destination just weeks ago.
On Sunday, the jet descended 27,000 feet in just one minute, careening into the ground to leave a deep crater, instantly killing all nine souls on board.
Writing on X, Mixon wrote: ‘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 about the bright future she had ahead of her makes it even more heartbreaking that her life was cut so short.
‘My heart, thoughts, and prayers go out to the grieving families and loved ones of everyone on board. A tragic reminder of how fragile life is. Love on your loved ones while you can, because you never know what tomorrow may bring.’
NFL star Joe Mixon has revealed he recently flew with tragic pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras
Mixon posted a heartbreaking tribute to the pilots after traveling on the same aircraft with them
Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, 20, is understood to be the young female pilot referenced by Mixon in his post. She earned her license at 17 and had been working for Upper Jets, a private charter firm based in Fort Lauderdale.
A business tycoon and his family, as well as their nanny and friends, have been identified as the other victims in the harrowing Florida crash.
Adam Robinson, 45, and his wife, Helen Sharp, 40, were aboard the jet with their toddlers, Emma, four, and Charlie, two.
The family of four was traveling from their home in Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas with their nanny, Anita Maria Cetina, and another couple, Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr, according to a joint statement released by the victims’ families.
Earlier on Monday, TMZ named the plane’s captain as Jeff Gregory, 55. He is believed to be the other pilot who flew Mixon last month.
It is unclear where Mixon flew on the jet, but he is currently a free agent and in the process of looking for his next team.
Experts have speculated that the jet, worth $2 million, was potentially downed by what is known as coffin corner
An investigation is now being carried out by federal authorities to determine what went wrong
Last month, he did travel to Seattle to undergo a physical with the Seahawks, but the team ultimately decided against signing him to a contract due to his degenerative foot condition.
After the decision, NFL insiders revealed that he may ‘never play again,’ with multiple teams having expressed doubts over his long-term health.
On Monday, horrifying audio of the fatal crash in Greenacres, Palm Beach County, revealed that Filgueiras’ co-pilot Gregory said the Lord’s Prayer during their final moments.
While he prayed, Filgueiras could be heard saying that the Learjet 60 had banked 60 degrees, meaning it was flying sideways.
Moments later, the plane crashed in a fireball by the side of the road, killing all nine people who were on board.
Adam Robinson, 45, and his wife Helen Sharp, 40, were aboard the jet alongside their toddlers Emma, four, and Charlie, two, during the crash
Filgueiras grew up in Palm Beach County and first got her pilot license in 2023 at the age of 17
At a press conference, officials with the National Transportation Safety Board said they believe severe weather was a ‘significant factor’ in the disaster and that part of the jet appeared to have broken off before the crash.
Officials said the pilots requested to gain 2,000 feet of elevation when they encountered a thunderstorm, moments before the aircraft spiraled to the ground.
Some aviation experts have speculated that the plane may have hit what pilots call ‘coffin corner’ while trying to climb above two storm systems.
The term describes the very narrow gap between safe minimum speeds and safe maximum speeds while flying at high altitude. If a pilot goes too slow or too fast, they can easily stall the plane or lose control.
