October 23rd 2024.
Next up, we have some sad news to share. Charles T. "Chuck" Coleman, who worked as a flight instructor on the highly anticipated film Top Gun: Maverick alongside Tom Cruise, has tragically passed away in a plane crash. The experienced aerobatic pilot was participating in the Las Cruces Air and Space Expo in New Mexico on Sunday, when the accident occurred around 2:30pm.
The City of Las Cruces took to social media to honor Coleman, remembering him as a well-known and respected engineer, aerobatic and test pilot with an impressive 10,000 hours of flight time. They also mentioned his involvement in Top Gun: Maverick, where he served as an aerobatic flight instructor for actors such as Tom Cruise, Glen Powell, and Miles Teller, flying over 100 flights to prepare them for their roles as Navy F-18 Hornet pilots.
Las Cruces Mayor Eric Enriquez expressed his condolences, saying, "Unfortunately, we had a tragic ending to our Air and Space Expo this weekend. There was an aircraft accident during Sunday's performance that resulted in the death of pilot, Charles T. "Chuck" Coleman. Our hearts go out to his loved ones and fans during this difficult time."
Miles Teller, one of the actors who worked closely with Coleman, paid tribute to him on social media, saying, "Chuck had a very easygoing way about him and we always felt comfortable with his expertise at our disposal. ... Gone too soon but his contributions will live on forever. Thanks for the memories, Chuck."
The Las Cruces International Airport is currently closed as authorities investigate the accident, with the New Mexico State Police, Federal Aviation Administration, and National Transportation Safety Board involved. Spectators who may have captured photos or videos of the incident have been encouraged to share them with the National Transportation Safety Board.
In an interview with his alma mater, the University of Michigan, Coleman spoke passionately about his work with Tom Cruise, who plays Captain Pete Mitchell in the Top Gun franchise. "You develop kind of a friendship with them, and we noticed that aviation was changing them," he shared.
He also spoke about his role in making the actors feel comfortable and confident while flying. "On one of my flights with Tom, we just talked the whole time about the training and everything. He said to me, 'The confidence is improving in all of them.' So I'm just, like, wow, Tom Cruise is telling me this. It's just amazing."
Coleman also had an impressive career outside of his work on Top Gun: Maverick. He served as the senior design engineer for the F/A-18 Hornet used by NASA and the United States Navy. In October 2018, he joined the "Tom Cruise School of Flying" at Cruise's request, as the actor insisted on using real footage of the actors in F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets for the sequel.
During the training, Coleman flew with each actor around 20 times, helping them to overcome their nerves and feel comfortable in the high-speed, high-risk world of aerobatic flying. "The main thing is when people first start flying, especially aerobics, they're nervous, and that's not the look for Top Gun pilots," he said. "I just try to talk to them and be comforting because it's crazy stuff that we're doing in many people's books."
Do you have any stories to share about your experience with Chuck Coleman or the Top Gun: Maverick cast? We would love to hear from you. Please reach out to us at The Agency entertainment team by emailing us, calling 020 3615 2145, or visiting our Submit Stuff page. Your contributions are greatly appreciated.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
