Nine people died when a private jet plunged onto a Florida highway, leaving families and friends to absorb an unimaginable loss. The Learjet 60 had been traveling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas when it went down around 12:50 p.m. Sunday. All nine aboard were killed, including a family of four, their nanny, 20-year-old co-pilot Nathalia, and 55-year-old Captain Jeff Gregory. According to ABC News, the FAA reported that the aircraft descended from 35,250 feet to 8,750 feet in just over a minute. Investigators are looking into weather conditions and evidence that the jet may have started breaking apart before impact, but the exact cause of the crash remains undetermined.
In the aftermath, reports have focused on what Gregory is said to have been heard saying during the flight’s final moments. According to The Mirror, the captain could be heard reciting the Lord’s Prayer on a recording before the audio cut off, including the words, “Who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.” His former employer, East Coast Jets, extended condolences to everyone affected by the tragedy. A longtime friend described Gregory as diligent and dependable, and said flying had been his dream since childhood. Gregory reportedly leaves behind his wife, Cheryl, and three children, now mourning him alongside the family of four, their nanny, and co-pilot Nathalia, as investigators continue working to understand what happened on that ill-fated flight.