Charles Thomas "Chuck" Coleman, the flight instructor for 'Top Gun: Maverick', died in a plane crash during an air show in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on October 20. Coleman, 61, was performing aerobatics in an Extra Flugzeugbau EA300 monoplane when the incident occurred around 2:30 PM local time. He was a highly respected engineer and pilot with over 10,000 flight hours and had played a crucial role in training the film's cast, completing more than 100 flights to prepare them for flying Navy F-18 Hornets. Actor Miles Teller paid tribute to Coleman, describing him as kind and humble, expressing gratitude for his contributions. The crash is under investigation by the FAA, NTSB, and New Mexico State Police, with condolences extended by local officials. The air show was subsequently canceled following the tragic event.