Key Takeaways
- RB2B co-founder and CEO Adam Robinson, his wife Helen Sharp and their children Emma and Charlie were killed when their jet crashed near Greenacres, Florida, along with the children’s nanny and another couple.
- The NTSB says the aircraft may have started breaking up before impact, and investigators will focus on weather after a pilot reported icing conditions at high altitude.
Adam Robinson, a B2B pioneer who founded SaaS companies RB2B and Retention.com, was identified as one of the victims of the plane that crashed in Florida over the weekend.
Robinson, 45, his wife, Helen Sharp, 40, and their children, Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2, were identified in a joint statement released by the families on Facebook Nov. 2.
“Adam and Helen were devoted parents, and Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2, were the light of their lives,” wrote Anthony Robinson, Adam’s brother, in the statement on Facebook. “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.
Who Was Adam Robinson, CEO of RB2B?
Robinson’s company where he was a CEO and co-founder published a LinkedIn post that said the were “heartbroken by the loss” of the Robinson family and all those that perished in the plane crash.
“Adam was much more than our CEO. He was a friend, a mentor and a bold, outspoken leader who lived life to the fullest,” the statement said. “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…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.”
Who Were the Other Victims of the Florida Plane Crash?
The other passengers of the crash were the children’s nanny Anita Maria Cetina; and another couple, Rachael Reed and Charmi Fehr.
“Charmi and Rachel were full of joy and adventure,” the Facebook statement stated. “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.”
What Caused the Florida Plane Crash? What the NTSB Says So Far
The jet began its journey at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas with two crew and seven passengers, National Transportation Safety Board member Tom Chapman said at a press conference Monday. The plane was heading east at 35,000 feet when the pilot started to report problems. It crashed at Military Trail and Cresthaven Boulevard near Greenacres and exploded into a fireball. The impact sent debris flying, crushing cars, cutting power, damaging a water main and displacing an estimated 600 people from nearby mobile homes.
“We do have some indication that the aircraft was breaking up before impact,” Chapman said. “We may find parts of the aircraft some distance away from the actual impact site.”
Weather conditions will be a major focus of the investigation. Rain pounded the region on Sunday, and one of the pilots reported icing conditions at a high altitude in communications with air traffic control. Weather radar maps from the time of the crash that FlightRadar24 combined with the plane’s flight path seem to show it flying directly into a storm cell that was rapidly expanding upward.
