Who Were Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr? Family Pays Emotional Tribute to Friends Killed in Learjet Crash

Charmi Fehr and Rachael Reed were among the seven passengers killed when a Learjet 60 crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Nov. 1. The duo was traveling with technology entrepreneur Adam Robinson, his wife Helen Sharp, their two young children and the family’s nanny, Anita Maria Apellido Cetina.

Their deaths were confirmed in a statement released on behalf of the victims’ families, which remembered Fehr and Reed as those who embraced life and loved the people closest to them wholeheartedly.

“Charmi and Rachel were full of joy and adventure. They loved their people fiercely, fully and without hesitation,” the statement said.

“From the moment they met, they were all in on each other and the life they were building. They are deeply loved, and we will miss them endlessly.”

Although their deaths were confirmed alongside those of the Robinson family, relatively little verified information about their personal backgrounds has been made public. Their ages, occupations, hometowns and individual life stories have not been detailed in the initial reports identifying the victims.

Who Else Was Killed in the Florida Learjet Crash?

Fehr and Reed were among nine people killed in the Nov. 1 crash.

The other passengers included Adam Robinson, a technology entrepreneur who founded Retention.com and RB2B, his wife Helen Sharp, and their children Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2. Anita Maria Apellido Cetina, the nanny who cared for the children, was also aboard the aircraft.

The families remembered Robinson and Sharp as devoted parents, describing their children as “the light of their lives”. They also paid tribute to Cetina, saying she cared for Emma and Charlie “with tenderness and devotion” and was “truly part of the family.”

The two pilots, Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras and Jeff Gregory, were also killed.

What Happened to the Learjet?

The Learjet 60 was travelling from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas when it crashed near Greenacres

The aircraft reportedly encountered icing, precipitation and turbulence while cruising at around 35,000 feet. The crew subsequently reported an emergency as the aircraft entered a rapid descent before striking the ground and erupting into flames.

The crash caused extensive destruction in the residential area near Greenacres. The Learjet struck the ground near Military Trail and 10th Avenue North, leaving a large crater, fires and debris scattered across the surrounding area. Video footage captured the aircraft plunging towards the ground before exploding on impact.

Investigators have also raised the possibility that the aircraft began breaking apart before hitting the ground. The National Transportation Safety Board said there was evidence that parts may have separated during the flight, with debris potentially scattered beyond the main impact site. Recovering and examining the wreckage is expected to take several days, and investigators are working to establish what happened during the aircraft’s final moments.

The crash also forced authorities to evacuate residents from a nearby mobile-home community, with approximately 600 people requiring temporary shelter and assistance. Investigators are examining weather conditions, including reports of ice accumulation, turbulence and precipitation at around 35,000 feet. The crew subsequently declared an emergency as the aircraft entered a steep descent. The NTSB has not determined the cause of the crash and cautioned against drawing conclusions before the investigation is complete.