Austin tech founder and family among nine killed in Florida jet crash
The Learjet 60 crashed in Palm Beach County on Sunday, killing Adam Robinson, his wife, two children, their nanny, two friends, and two pilots.
By John Ferrari ·
A private jet carrying a Texas tech executive, his immediate family, and companions crashed in Florida on Sunday, killing all nine people on board. Authorities confirmed the incident involved a Learjet 60 that departed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in the morning and headed toward the Bahamas.
The passengers included Adam Robinson, 44, who founded RB2B and Retention.com. His wife, Helen Sharp, founded the public relations agency Influential PR. Their children, Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2, were also aboard. The Robinsons' nanny, Anita Maria Apellido Cetina, and two close friends, Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr, were also killed.
The flight crew consisted of two individuals. Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, a 20-year-old co-pilot, died in the crash. TMZ identified the captain as Jeff Gregory, 55. The National Transportation Safety Board is currently investigating the accident and stated that weather conditions would be a major focus of the inquiry.
Anthony Robinson, Adam's brother, confirmed the deaths in a Facebook post on Monday afternoon. He described Adam and Helen as devoted parents and said their children were the light of their lives. He noted that their generosity and warmth touched many people and that their loss would be deeply felt by everyone who knew them.
Anthony also shared memories of Rachael and Charmi, describing them as joyful and adventurous people who loved their community fiercely. He wrote that they were deeply loved and would be missed endlessly. Regarding Anita Maria, the post stated she cared for the children with tenderness and devotion, noting that she was truly part of the family and showed a legacy of unconditional love.
Willis Wilson, who coached Adam Robinson's varsity basketball team at Rice University from 1999 to 2001, said the university community was grieving. Wilson called the tragedy incredibly sad and noted that Adam was an uplifting guy who was loved by his teammates and coaches. He said the university was in shock and sent prayers to Adam, his family, and the other victims' loved ones.
Anthony Robinson thanked first responders and the Palm Beach County community for their care. He expressed gratitude to those who reached out with love and asked for privacy as the family grieved. He also extended his condolences to the families of the pilots, saying their hearts were with them.
