Pilot Instructor of Miles Teller in Top Gun Dies in Fatal Plane Crash
Miles Teller is reminiscing about a beloved friend.
The Top Gun: Maverick star honored Charles Thomas “Chuck” Coleman—the flight instructor for Miles and the cast of the 2022 action film—following his tragic passing in a plane crash in Las Cruces, N.M., on Oct. 20. He was 61.
“RIP Chuck Coleman,” Teller shared on X, formerly Twitter, Oct. 21 alongside several photos of the two. “Chuck was our aerobatics flight instructor and played a vital role in our preparation for Top Gun: Maverick.”
Miles described Coleman as “an aerospace engineer, air show and test pilot, and a cherished friend.”
“Chuck had a gentle demeanor and we always felt reassured by his expertise,” he added. “He was kind, modest, and curious about others and the world we inhabit. Taken from us too soon but his impact will endure forever. Thank you for the memories, Chuck.”