crash

Nine people boarded a Learjet 60 bound for North Eleuthera but none made it to their destination. The aircraft crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Sunday, claiming nine lives.

The trip to the Bahamas was meant to be a celebration. Adam Robinson, 45, had reportedly chartered the Learjet to take his wife, Helen Sharp, their two young children, their nanny and two friends on a week-long trip to celebrate his birthday.

According to the New York Post, the family was looking forward to time together — a holiday that would bring loved ones together for a special occasion. Friends also recalled Robinson recently remarking that life was “going too well.”

Among the victims was Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, 20, a young woman whose ambition was to fly. She earned her private pilot’s licence at just 17, before obtaining her driver’s licence. After training through her high school’s aviation academy, she graduated from American Flyers flight school as she worked towards her dream of becoming a commercial pilot.

Jeff Gregory, 55, was the pilot in command. A husband to Cheryl and father of three, Gregory had dreamed of flying since childhood. His longtime friend David Peters recalled a young Jeff who loved aviation and wore a leather bomber jacket. He eventually turned that childhood fascination into a career, beginning his flight training in the 1990s. Friends remembered him as diligent, dependable and hardworking, with a Christian faith rooted in his upbringing.

Also aboard were Adam Robinson, 45, an Austin-based technology entrepreneur, his wife Helen Sharp, 40, and their children, Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2.

Robinson was the CEO and co-founder of Retention.com and also led RB2B and Moltsets. Sharp was an entrepreneur, potter and public relations company owner. But beyond their professional lives, their families remembered them as devoted parents whose greatest joy was their children.

In a joint statement, their families described Adam and Helen’s relationship as “the love affair that will last forever,” remembering their warmth, generosity and ability to make others feel welcome. Emma and Charlie, they said, were “the light of their lives.”

Rachael Reed, an ICU nurse originally from the Oklahoma City area, was travelling with her fiancé, Charmi Fehr. Their families remembered two people building a life filled with “joy and adventure,” who loved their people “fiercely, fully and without hesitation.”

Also aboard was Anita Maria Cetina, who cared for Emma and Charlie and was considered part of the Robinson-Sharp family. Their loved ones said she showed them “a legacy of unconditional love and devotion.”

As federal investigators examine the circumstances surrounding the crash, including weather conditions and reports of icing and turbulence, the families expressed gratitude to first responders, investigators and the Palm Beach County community, while asking for privacy as they grieve.

For a Bahamian mother living in Florida, her children were more than the babies she brought into the world. Marshall Clarke-Milton called them her pride, joy and the centre of a family built on love, laughter and kindness.

Charles, Jakara and Dalvena were among six people killed in a fiery crash on the Florida Turnpike near mile marker 252 on Friday night. The siblings were travelling with their significant others and a friend to Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights when tragedy struck.

“Jesus, all of my children are dead.

“Why Lord would you take all my babies. All 3…I’m numb… I can’t think… I can’t … sleep,” she lamented.

In a heartbreaking tribute shared on social media, Marshall recalled the difficult pregnancies she endured to bring each child into the world, describing the medical challenges she faced to carry them to full term.

“I birthed you, raised you, molded you, and educated you, but most importantly I filled you with love, kindness, and respect for everyone,” she wrote.

She remembered teaching her children to stand up for those who could not defend themselves and to love people openly. Their home, she recalled, was often filled with other people’s children, many of whom came to call her “Ma.”

Even in her grief, she reflected on the memories that will remain with her: the siblings laughing together, sharing stories and filling a room with the warmth of family.

The last message in their group chat was their mother checking that they had arrived safely. She did not know then that her children were already gone.

“I wouldn’t change a single moment of our lives shared together with the exception of Friday night,” she wrote.

Marshall later told FOX 35 that she sensed something was wrong when she could not reach her children. After contacting officials and providing their names, she learned that two had been identified.

Her husband, Charles Milton Sr., also spoke of the family’s devastating loss, describing the struggle to get through each hour and each day.

Their granddaughter has become a source of strength as they try to face a future without three of their children.

But alongside their grief is a demand for answers.

The Florida Highway Patrol said a roadside assistance truck had been moving across the roadway to help a disabled box truck when it was struck by the Chevrolet Traverse carrying the six victims. Both vehicles left the road, and the SUV caught fire. All six occupants died.

Marshall has questioned aspects of the initial account, saying investigators should examine vehicle data and other evidence before determining responsibility. The Florida Highway Patrol confirmed the investigation remains open, while the National Transportation Safety Board announced its own investigation into the crash.

For Tameka Barrat, losing her twin sister was losing the person she describes as her “other half.”

Now, as she tries to come to terms with a loss that came suddenly and tragically, Barrat is asking the Bahamian community for help giving her sister, Toniquea Gilot, a final farewell.

“Help us lay our beloved twin sister, Toniquea Gilot, to rest,” Barrat wrote in a GoFundMe campaign launched on Monday.

Toniquea was among 10 people killed in a plane crash on July 10, Bahamas Independence Day, while travelling from Nassau to San Andros.

She was also a singer with the Pond Band, bringing music and her own presence to the lives of those who knew her.

For her twin, however, Toniquea was family and her other half.

And now Tameka is facing the painful reality of having to bury her.

“Losing my twin sister is a pain that is difficult to put into words,” Barrat wrote. “She was not only my sister, but my other half, and her sudden passing has left an enormous hole in our family.”

The family is now trying to raise $7,000 to help cover the costs associated with Toniquea’s burial, including a burial plot, casket, funeral arrangements and other necessary expenses.

For a family already dealing with the shock of losing a loved one in such a sudden way, the financial burden can make an already painful period even harder.

Barrat is therefore turning to relatives, friends, strangers and anyone willing to help.

“We are reaching out to family, friends, and anyone who feels moved to help us during this incredibly difficult time,” she said.

“Anything will help,” she later wrote on Facebook.

It is a small request carrying a heavy weight. The family wants to give Toniquea the peaceful and dignified farewell they believe she deserves.

“Forever loved and forever missed, forever my twin,” Tameka wrote.

Click here to help: GoFundMe

In the quiet hours before dawn on Sunday, a twin-engine plane crashed under unknown circumstances, leading to the loss of two lives in Ragged Island.

The accident occurred east of Duncan Town Airport, and authorities were alerted to the tragedy shortly before 5 a.m.

The local police force, supported by members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos, and the US Drug Enforcement Agency arrived to find the aircraft consumed by fire.

The aftermath of the crash was grim, with the charred remains of two individuals discovered among the wreckage.

The tranquil and close-knit community of Ragged Island is mourning the loss of life.

The identities of the victims have not been released, pending notification of next of kin.

Authorities are piecing together the events that led to this unfortunate incident.

The tourist killed when the all-terrain vehicle in which he was a passenger crashed and rolled over, was described as “a kind, caring and gentle soul.”

Wilber Jorge was visiting Nassau, Bahamas, from the USA, and died unexpectedly after he was ejected from the 2019 Can-AM Outlander Four Wheeler on Sunday. Authorities said he sustained serious injuries after Carol Garcia, also visiting from the US, lost control of the ATV.

“He lived his life to the fullest every single day…” his daughter, Keyshla Jorge said, describing him as “an amazing father” to her three siblings.

“He was loved dearly by all his family.”

Susy Mero, his partner, said she is still processing the events surrounding Jorge’s sudden death and expressed her profound love for him.

“I loved you (Jorge). I love you and I will always love you.”

Since the crash, Jorge’s remains are still in the Bahamas and his family is hoping to transport his body to Lakeworth, Florida with monies raised from GoFundMe.

“Anything helps…we want to bring him home to his loved ones,” Mero said.

The family is hoping to raise $50,000 to cover the funeral expenses and offer financial help for his children.

Meanwhile, Garcia is on $18,000 bail after a charge of vehicular manslaughter was levied against her. She stands accused of dangerously driving the ATV in a public space which caused the death of Jorge.

As the family plans a date for the funeral, Mero admonished others, “Please hug your loved ones tightly as you never know what can happen.”

Featured photo: Wilber Jorge is shown with partner Susy Meso