Joe Mixon says he flew on the same Learjet 60 with the same two pilots just weeks before it crashed in Palm Beach County, Florida, killing all nine people on board. The former NFL running back shared his reaction on social media Monday, saying he was “absolutely devastated” by Sunday’s disaster.
Mixon described the pilots, who died in the crash, as “incredible professionals and genuinely wonderful people.” He also paid tribute to 20-year-old co-pilot Nathalia Gadelha, saying that learning about her life and promising future made the loss especially heartbreaking.
The jet was traveling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas when it went down. Its seven passengers and two pilots were killed. Among the passengers were a Texas couple and their two young children, who were traveling with a nanny and two friends for a birthday celebration in the Caribbean.
Investigators are examining what caused the crash. Reports cited icing and turbulence before the aircraft went down. Mixon closed his message by urging people to cherish their loved ones.
Sources: TMZ.