Charles Thomas ‘Chuck’ Coleman, a renowned aerobatic pilot who worked as a flight instructor on the hit blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick, was tragically killed in a plane crash on Sunday in New Mexico.

Coleman Killed In Plane Crash

Coleman was the only person onboard the two-seat Extra Flugzeugbau EA300 monoplane when it crashed at around 2:30pm on Sunday during the Las Cruces Air and Space Expo at Las Cruces International Airport.

“Unfortunately, we had a tragic ending to our Air and Space Expo this weekend,” said Las Cruces Mayor Eric Enriquez. “There was an aircraft accident during Sunday’s performance that resulted in the death of pilot, Charles T. ‘Chuck’ Coleman.”

“We would like to extend our deepest condolences to the loved ones and fans of Chuck Coleman,” he continued.

Coleman was honored in a statement posted to Facebook.

“Coleman was a well known and respected engineer, aerobatic and test pilot with more than 10,000 hours of flight time according to information posted online,” the statement read. “He performed at hundreds of airshows and had provided more than 3,000 rides in aerobatic aircraft.”

“Coleman was also an aerobatic flight instructor for actors in the 2022 motion picture, ‘Top Gun: Maverick,’ where he flew more than 100 flights in preparing actors to fly in Navy F-18 Hornets,” the statement added.

Tragically, the crash was caught on video.

Miles Teller Honors Coleman

Top Gun: Maverick star Miles Teller took to social media to pay tribute to Coleman by posting a series of photos of them together.

“RIP Chuck Coleman,” Teller wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “Chuck was our aerobatics flight instructor and instrumental in our preparation for Top Gun: Maverick. He was an aerospace engineer, air show and test pilot, and our friend and ally.”

“Chuck had a very easy going way about him and we always felt comfortable with his expertise at our disposal,” he continued. “He was kind, humble and curious about others and the world we live in. Gone too soon but his contributions will live on forever. Thanks for the memories, Chuck.”

Related: Val Kilmer Celebrates As ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Scores Golden Globe Nomination

Coleman’s History

A biography on Coleman’s website states that he graduated from the University of Michigan with an aerospace mechanical degree. It adds that he worked in Hollywood “on numerous other films and shows.”

Coleman had to fly more than 100 flights over an eight month period to prepare the actors for flight in US Navy F-18 Hornets for Top Gun: Maverick, which came out in 2022. For those who may not be aware, that is a lot of flight time.

“The main thing is when people first start flying, especially aerobics, they’re nervous, and that’s not the look for Top Gun pilots,” Coleman said at the time. “I just try to talk to them and be comforting because it’s crazy stuff that we’re doing in many people’s books.”

Coleman went on to talk about working with the movie’s stars, including Tom Cruise.

“You develop kind of a friendship with them, and we noticed that aviation was changing them,” he explained.

“On one of my flights with Tom, we just talked the whole time about the training and everything,” Coleman added. “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.”

Related: Glen Powell Gives Huge Update About ‘Top Gun 3’ – ‘I Have A Date…’

Coleman Loved Performing In Air Shows

Coleman had performed at hundreds of airshows. He had also provided more than 3,000 rides in aerobatic aircraft.

“He was one of the most skilled pilots out there,” his friend Christopher Van Pelt told KFOX. “I think what this loss represents is, is really the loss of a mentor, the loss of a friend.”

Days before his death, Coleman gushed over how excited he was about this air show.

“It’s going to be a great event with this, look at this sky you have here in New Mexico, just a spectacular type of thing,” Coleman said in a press conference.

Please join us in saying a prayer for Coleman’s family and friends as they mourn him.

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