Nine Killed in Florida Learjet Crash, Including Tech Entrepreneur Adam Robinson and His Family
GREENACRES, Fla. — Tech entrepreneur Adam Robinson, his wife, Helen Sharp, and their two young daughters, Bella and Emma, are reportedly among the nine people killed when a Learjet 60 crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday, November 1.
Robinson, 44, was the founder and CEO of Retention.com and RB2B. Reports indicate that he and his family were traveling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas when the private jet crashed in a residential neighborhood.
The family's nanny and two close friends were also reportedly aboard the aircraft. Their identities have not all been publicly confirmed.
Authorities have not yet officially released the complete list of victims, and reports identifying Robinson and his family have not been formally confirmed.
The Crew
The 20-year-old co-pilot, Nathalia Filgueiras, was identified by her family. Some reports spell her surname as Gadelha. She earned her pilot's license at just 17 while still in high school, and flying was reportedly her greatest passion.
The pilot has reportedly been identified as Jeffrey Gregory, 55, an experienced aviator from Pennsylvania.
A Bootstrapped Success Story
Robinson was well known in the startup community for building successful businesses without relying on outside funding.
He grew RB2B, a platform that identifies anonymous business-to-business website visitors, to $5 million in annual recurring revenue in just 15 months.
His other company, Retention.com, reportedly reached $12 million in annual recurring revenue by 2023 with a team of just six employees.
The Crash and Investigation
The Learjet 60 crashed near Military Trail, between Cresthaven Boulevard and 10th Avenue North, at approximately 12:50 p.m. Eastern time.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy described the incident as a "horrific tragedy."
According to preliminary information, the crew reported light clear icing conditions and moderate turbulence before the crash. However, investigators have not determined whether these conditions contributed to the accident.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the crash, and no probable cause has been established.
Approximately 600 nearby residents were reportedly displaced and relocated to shelters following the incident.
Nine lives were lost, leaving families, friends, and loved ones facing an unimaginable tragedy.
Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this heartbreaking loss. 💔🕊️