A pilot appeared to recite the Lord’s Prayer in the final seconds before a Learjet crashed in Florida, killing everyone on board.
The haunting cockpit audio was captured Sunday as the jet nosedived at high speed into a mobile home park in Palm Beach County, leaving an enormous crater, downing power lines, and erupting in a ball of flames. A male voice can be heard saying, “Who art in heaven, hallowed be the name,” according to the recording.
Copilot Nathalia Gadelha, 20, is heard screaming that they are about to crash and die as the plane hurtled toward the ground. Gadelha also appears to scream, “Look out the window, Jeff!,” in the chilling audio seconds before impact.
Authorities have not yet identified who was on the plane. The jet smashed into the ground with devastating force, and the crash site showed the violence of the impact.
Gadelha’s heartbroken family exclusively confirmed early Monday that she was the co-pilot heard screaming in the cockpit audio and that she was on board the Learjet. The family came forward to identify her as investigators continued working to determine the full list of victims.
The male voice reciting the prayer and the name “Jeff” shouted by Gadelha suggest at least two other people were in the aircraft, though officials have not confirmed identities. The recording captures the terror of the final moments as the copilot realized the plane was going down.
The crash destroyed a mobile home park area and caused significant damage to infrastructure with downed power lines. The crater left by the impact indicated the speed and angle of the descent.
Investigators are working to piece together what caused the Learjet to nosedive. The cockpit audio provides a chilling window into the final seconds but does not reveal what led to the catastrophic failure.
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are expected to lead the investigation into the cause of the crash. The Learjet, a popular aircraft for private and corporate travel, has a safety record that investigators will examine.
Gadelha, at 20, was young for a copilot position on such an aircraft, raising questions about her training and experience that investigators will likely explore. Her family confirmed her role on the flight after recognizing her voice in the widely circulated audio.
The recitation of the Lord’s Prayer, a Christian prayer taught to millions of children, takes on particular weight in the recording as a possible final act of a person facing imminent death. The words “Who art in heaven, hallowed be the name” come from the opening lines of the prayer.
Authorities are set to hold a press conference later Monday to give more details about the victims and the ongoing investigation.