Businessman Adam Robinson was among nine people killed in a devastating plane crash in Florida on Sunday. In the wake of the tragedy, a resurfaced interview with the 45-year-old has caught people’s attention, with his words from before the fatal flight now taking on a heartbreaking new meaning.
Read more: Everything we know about the Florida Learjet crash
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the devastating accident occurred at approximately 12:50 p.m. Sunday in Palm Beach County, Florida. The Learjet 60 had departed from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was bound for North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into whether ice, turbulence or potential human error played a role in the fatal crash. At a news conference on Monday, investigators said the aircraft may have broken apart before slamming into the ground at high speed, Reuters reported.
As investigators continue to piece together what led to the crash, more details have emerged about the nine people who lost their lives.
Among those killed in the crash was businessman Adam Robinson, 45, and his wife, ceramicist Helen Sharp, 40; their children Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2, and the family’s nanny, Anita Maria Cetina.
Florida Learjet crash
Robinson co-founded the tech company Retention, while his wife was the founder of communications agency Influential PR and also ran Helen Sharp Ceramics.
Retention paid tribute to its CEO after the victims had been identified. In a statement, it said: “We are heartbroken by the loss of Adam Robinson, our CEO and co-founder, his wife Helen and their two young children, who died in a tragic plane crash in Palm Beach County, Florida, on November 1, 2026.
“Adam was much more than our CEO. He was a friend, a mentor and a bold, outspoken leader who lived life to the fullest.”
It continued: “He cared deeply about the people around him and brought energy and conviction to everything he built. His loss is deeply felt across our team and the tech community, as we collectively mourn this significant loss.
“Our hearts are with Adam and Helen’s family and loved ones, and with everyone affected by the crash. We ask that their privacy be respected during this difficult time.
“Our immediate focus at Retention.com, RB2B, and Moltsets is supporting our employees and Adam and Helen’s family. We are grateful for the kindness and support extended to them and our team.”
Prior to the tragic crash, Robinson had reportedly told friends that he was happier than ever, with his business thriving and a fulfilling family life alongside his wife and their two young children.
Robinson’s words about flying before the crash
The 45-year-old had also previously spoken openly about his passion for private jets. In an earlier interview, he admitted that flying by private jet had become so much a part of his lifestyle that it was now “part of [his] identity”.
In a video which he shared on his YouTube channel, Robinson spoke with Lolita Petrossov, who co-founded a private jet charter company, and said: “I remember when I found out it was only a couple of thousand dollars a month, and I could fly for free from New York to Miami or Chicago.
“There was a time where I was single and travelling a lot. And it was like this feeling that I got of ‘wow, I can actually fly private too.’ The status that I got – it became part of my identity’.”
According to LADbible, he also shared a post on X earlier this year, writing: “You don’t need to crash a plane to learn to fly … and you don’t need VC [venture capital] to build a business.”
Robinson’s friend, Jesse Ouellette, told TMZ: “His loss will be deeply felt by the software founders who knew him as a friend and colleague.
“He challenged the way things were done and was far ahead of his time. It’s heartbreaking that we lost him so soon.”
The victims’ families shared a statement
The other victims included pilot Jeff Gregory, 55, and co-pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, 20, as well as couple Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr.
In a statement released together, the victims’ families said: “Adam and Helen were devoted parents, and Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2, were the light of their lives. Helen and Adam were the love affair that will last forever.
“Their warmth, generosity and gift for making people feel welcome touched so many lives. Their loss will be felt deeply by all those who loved them and who they loved in return.”
The statement continued: “Charmi and Rachael were full of joy and adventure. They loved their people fiercely, fully and without hesitation. 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.
“Anita Maria cared for Emma and Charlie with tenderness and devotion, and she was truly part of the family. She showed us a legacy of unconditional love and devotion.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends and loved ones of everyone who lost their lives in this devastating tragedy. May they all rest in peace.
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