Technology news and discussion on TalkFuse.
NASA chief defends co-pilot as Florida Learjet crash speculation spreads
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman criticised online speculation about a Learjet crash in Florida that killed all nine people aboard. He defended 20-year-old co-pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, whose final radio calls were questioned online, saying she was doing her job in a terrifying emergency and held the required qualifications.
The jet was travelling from Texas to the Bahamas when it crashed near West Palm Beach on Sunday. Filgueiras told air traffic control it was descending at more than 20,000 feet per minute; reports also said she had texted about turbulence and ice. Isaacman said investigators should establish what happened, including examining the weather, maintenance and possible aircraft failures, and urged the public to respect the victims’ families.
In short
- NASA chief condemns unsupported crash theories.
- He defends the 20-year-old co-pilot’s actions and qualifications.
- Investigators are urged to establish the cause before conclusions are drawn.
Explained simply
Learjet is a type of business jet used for private and charter flights. The aircraft was travelling from Texas to the Bahamas when it crashed near West Palm Beach, Florida, killing everyone on board.
Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras was the jet’s 20-year-old co-pilot, and Jared Isaacman is the head of NASA, the US space agency. Questions about the co-pilot’s radio calls have circulated online, while the cause of the crash remains for investigators to establish.
Understanding what happened may depend on evidence about the weather, aircraft maintenance and whether the jet suffered a mechanical failure. The crash has also drawn attention to how speculation about those involved can affect victims’ families.
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Daily Mail as “Outraged NASA boss slams Learjet crash conspiracy theories blaming DEI, missile and 20-year-old co-pilot for fireball that killed nine”.