AnnaMaria
During the making of the film American Made, a real tragedy unfolded behind the scenes. The movie focused on daring flights and covert missions, but the production itself became a reminder that real risks exist when safety takes second place to spectacle.
In September 2015, a twin-engine Aerostar 600 hired for filming crashed in Colombia. Three pilots were on board: Andrew Purwin, Jimmy Lee Garland, and Carlos Berl. Purwin and Berl died on impact. Garland survived but suffered life changing injuries that ended his aviation career.
All three pilots were highly experienced. After the crash, concerns quickly surfaced about how the flight had been approved. Court filings later revealed that Berl had questioned the condition of the aircraft before takeoff. Those concerns were reportedly not resolved. Garland, who had often worked as an aviation stunt double for Tom Cruise, understood both filmmaking and real aviation risk. Purwin was known as a skilled pilot who was willing to push limits.
Weather conditions were worsening on the day of the crash. Despite this, the flight went ahead under production pressure and tight schedules. The aircraft went down in remote terrain, leaving almost no chance for survival for two of the pilots.
Families of Purwin and Berl, along with Garland, later sued the production companies. They accused the companies of negligence, coercion, and ignoring clear safety concerns. Lawsuits pointed to mechanical issues, disputed certifications, and a culture where deadlines mattered more than caution. Depositions suggested that some pilots felt pressured to fly even when they had reservations.
The legal cases lasted several years and ended in 2019 with a confidential settlement. The settlement closed the legal process, but it could not undo the damage. Two families lost loved ones, and Garland lost his career and former quality of life.
The crash highlighted uncomfortable truths about filmmaking. Movies often celebrate risk, but the professionals who perform dangerous tasks face consequences that cannot be edited out. Pilots do not work in controlled environments. When something goes wrong, the results are final.
Hollywood had seen similar warnings in the past. A fatal jet crash during the original Top Gun production showed how dangerous aviation work can be on set. The American Made crash showed that these lessons can be forgotten when production pressure grows.
Since then, the industry has made gradual changes. Computer generated imagery is used more often instead of real aerial stunts. Productions now hire independent safety officers, and pilots have clearer authority to refuse unsafe missions. These improvements came too late for the people involved in this crash.
Today the film is praised for its energy and realism, but for the families of Berl and Purwin, and for Garland, it represents a different story. It shows that no amount of authenticity is worth a human life.
The lasting lesson from this tragedy is simple. Professionalism in aviation is not about taking risks. It is about managing them with care. In filmmaking, as in flying, safety is not a barrier. It is the foundation.
