In a tragic twist of fate, the flight instructor who guided the stars of the 2022 Top Gun: Maverick has soared into the heavens, his life cut short in a small plane crash at an air show in New Mexico.
In the heart of the sky, where dreams take flight, Charles Thomas “Chuck” Coleman soared alone in his two-seat Extra Flugzeugbau EA300 monoplane. But fate had other plans, as the sun dipped low around 2:30pm local time on that fateful Sunday, and the winds whispered a tragic tale.
In a moment of soaring ambition, Mr. Coleman took to the skies, dancing with the clouds, when tragedy struck. The plane, once a vessel of dreams, met its fate during the Las Cruces Air and Space Expo at the heart of Las Cruces International Airport, as city officials solemnly reported.
In the wake of tragedy, the skies fell silent. As the air show was brought to a halt, the echoes of dreams shattered just half a mile west of the airport.
In the golden skies of California, Mr. Coleman stands tall, a master of the skies, an engineer, an aerobatic, and a test pilot, with over 10,000 hours soaring through the heavens.
He soared through the skies at countless air shows, offering over 3,000 thrilling rides in the heart-pounding world of aerobatic aircraft, as revealed on his website.
As the guiding force for the stars of Top Gun, where the legendary Tom Cruise takes to the skies, he soared through the heavens on over 100 flights, readying the cast for their daring missions in the mighty US Navy F-18 Hornets.
Actor Miles Teller honoured Mr. Coleman, expressing on X that he was “instrumental in our preparation for Top Gun: Maverick.”
“He soared through the skies as an aerospace engineer, a daring air show and test pilot, and he was our steadfast friend and ally.” Chuck possessed a laid-back charm that wrapped around us like a warm embrace, and we always found solace in the brilliance of his expertise, ready to guide us through the storm.
“He possessed a gentle spirit, a heart full of humility, and an insatiable thirst for the stories of others and the wonders of our world.” Departed from our sight, yet his legacy will shine eternally. Thank you for the moments, Chuck.
Las Cruces Mayor Eric Enriquez poured his heart out on Monday, saying: “We would like to extend our deepest condolences to the loved ones and fans of Chuck Coleman.”
In the heart of the desert, where the shadows dance, the New Mexico State Police, alongside the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, unite their strength to uncover the truth behind the crash that echoes through the night.
In the stillness of the night, the airport stood silent, a fortress of uncertainty, as the initial investigation unfolded. Only the brave, those on scheduled journeys, and the guardians of emergency response were allowed to pierce the veil of darkness and take to the skies.