Miles Teller pays tribute to “Top Gun: Maverick” flight instructor killed in plane crash: 'Gone too soon'

Charles "Chuck" Coleman died during a recent air show in New Mexico.

Miles Teller is paying his respects to Top Gun: Maverick flight instructor Charles "Chuck" Coleman, after the noted aerobatic pilot died in a plane crash Sunday during an air show in New Mexico.

"RIP Chuck Coleman," Teller wrote on social media on Monday. "Chuck was our aerobatics flight instructor and instrumental in our preparation for Top Gun: Maverick. 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."

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City of Las Cruces officials said in a statement that the accident occurred around 2:30 p.m. at the Las Cruces International Airport during the Las Cruces Air and Space Expo, and is currently being investigated by New Mexico State Police, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the National Transportation Safety Board. (Attendees who may have photos or video of the accident are encouraged to share them via the NTSB website.)

City officials described Coleman as "a well known and respected engineer, aerobatic and test pilot with more than 10,000 hours of flight time" who had "performed at hundreds of airshows and had provided more than 3,000 rides in aerobatic aircraft." For his work on Top Gun: Maverick, he flew more than 100 flights in preparing the film's actors, such as Teller, to fly in Navy F-18 Hornets.

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"Unfortunately, we had a tragic ending to our Air and Space Expo this weekend," Las Cruces Mayor Eric Enriquez said in a statement. "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."

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Further details on the accident and its cause were not immediately available, though Coleman was the only fatality. More information will be provided by the city as it becomes available, officials said.

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