A longtime friend of the 20-year-old co-pilot aboard the Learjet that crashed in Florida on Sunday has recalled the chilling final words she heard from her friend.
Co-pilot Nathalia Filgueiras issued an urgent mayday call to air traffic controllers after the Learjet 60 began losing altitude over Palm Beach County and entered a steep descent.
“722 Bravo Delta, we’re descending 8,000 Mayday, Mayday, we’re descending 10,000 feet per minute!” Filgueiras said over the radio.
“It was definitely, probably the worst thing I’ve ever heard,” Mikaela Schluth, who had known Filgueiras since middle school, told CBS Mornings.
The co-pilot continued providing air traffic control with updates on the aircraft’s altitude and speed. Shortly before the jet crashed and exploded, she warned that they were going to “crash into the ground” and said they were “out of time.”
Here’s the latest on the fatal Learjet crash in Florida
Despite the terrifying circumstances, Schluth said she was proud of the way her friend responded. “I’m just so proud of how she handled it and was able to stay calm and give information,” she told the outlet.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.