Miles Teller Pays Tribute To ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Flight Instructor Chuck Coleman Killed In Plane Crash: “He Was Kind, Humble & Curious”

Miles Teller is paying tribute to Chuck Coleman, the Top Gun: Maverick aerobatics flight instructor.

The actor took to social media to remember the late pilot who was killed in a plane crash at Las Cruces International Airport.

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

He continued, “Chuck had a very easy going way about him and we always felt comfortable with his expertise at our disposal. 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.”

Coleman died on Sunday, October 20, following a “fatal accident” during the Las Cruces Air and Space Expo in New Mexico.

“We are saddened to share tragic news from the 2024 Las Cruces Air and Space Expo, where a fatal accident claimed the life of pilot Charles Thomas ‘Chuck’ Coleman, who was based out of California, during Sunday’s performance,” city officials said in a statement posted on Facebook on Monday, October 21.

Las Cruces Mayor Eric Enriquez said, “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. We would like to extend our deepest condolences to the loved ones and fans of Chuck Coleman.”

Coleman was a respected engineer, aerobatic, and test pilot with more than 10,000 hours of flight time.

Authorities are still investigating the accident, and the airport remains closed.