A Serious On-Set Aviation Incident During the Production of American Made: What Happened and What It Changed

Introduction: When Filmmaking Meets Real-World Risk

Film productions often strive to create immersive experiences that place audiences directly inside thrilling moments—high-speed chases, daring escapes, and dramatic aerial sequences. While modern technology allows many of these scenes to be simulated digitally, some productions still rely on real aircraft and skilled aviation professionals to achieve authenticity. When this approach succeeds, it can result in visually compelling storytelling. When it fails, however, the consequences are not fictional.

During the production of American Made, a film released in 2017 and centered on real-world aviation activities, a tragic aviation incident occurred that deeply affected everyone involved. The event, which took place in 2015 during overseas filming preparations, resulted in the loss of two experienced aviation professionals and permanently altered the life of a third. Beyond the immediate human impact, the incident prompted legal action, industry-wide discussion, and renewed focus on safety standards in film production.

This article provides an educational and reflective overview of the incident, the context in which it occurred, and the broader lessons it raised for filmmaking, aviation coordination, and workplace safety. The focus is on understanding, accountability, and prevention—rather than speculation or sensational detail.

The Context: A Film Built Around Aviation

American Made is a crime drama inspired by real historical events involving aviation, international operations, and complex logistics. Because flight plays a central role in the narrative, the production required aircraft, pilots, and aerial coordination to support filming and transport activities.

Like many large-scale productions, the film involved multiple locations, international crews, and tight schedules. Aviation professionals were contracted to operate aircraft safely while accommodating the logistical needs of the production. These individuals brought with them years of experience, training, and technical skill.

Aviation work in filmmaking differs significantly from standard commercial or private aviation. Flights may involve unusual routes, repeated maneuvers, coordination with camera equipment, and pressure to meet production timelines. These factors make safety planning especially critical.

The Flight That Ended in Tragedy

In September 2015, during production-related aviation operations in Colombia, a twin-engine Aerostar 600 aircraft was assigned to support logistical needs associated with filming. On board were three aviation professionals:

Andrew Purwin, an experienced pilot with a background in specialized flying
Carlos Berl, a seasoned aviator with extensive international experience
Jimmy Lee Garland, a pilot and aircraft mechanic who had worked closely with the production and had previously assisted with aerial filming

The flight was not part of an on-camera stunt but was connected to production operations. During the flight, the aircraft crashed in challenging terrain. Two of the individuals on board lost their lives. The third survived but sustained serious injuries that required extensive medical care and brought an end to his professional flying career.

The loss was immediate and profound, affecting families, colleagues, and the broader aviation and film communities.

Professional Experience and Aviation Background

All three individuals involved were trained and experienced in aviation, but their backgrounds differed in important ways.

Some had extensive familiarity with the specific aircraft type, while others had broader experience across multiple platforms. As is common in aviation work, especially outside of commercial airline operations, pilots may transition between aircraft types depending on availability and mission requirements.

According to later legal filings, there were concerns raised prior to the flight regarding aircraft condition, maintenance status, and overall readiness. These concerns became central to subsequent investigations and legal proceedings.

Environmental and Operational Challenges

The flight took place in a region with variable weather conditions and complex geography. Mountainous terrain, changing visibility, and environmental factors all play a role in aviation safety planning.

Reports indicated that weather conditions were less than ideal on the day of the flight. In aviation, deteriorating weather requires careful evaluation, especially for smaller aircraft operating outside of controlled commercial environments.

In production settings, where schedules and costs are tightly managed, operational pressure can unintentionally influence decision-making. Industry experts emphasize that safety-critical decisions must remain insulated from such pressures.

The Aftermath: Grief, Recovery, and Questions

Following the incident, emergency responders and local authorities conducted initial assessments. Investigations focused on the aircraft, flight conditions, operational planning, and decision-making processes leading up to the crash.

For the families of those who lost their lives, the focus quickly shifted from shock to seeking understanding. For the surviving pilot, recovery involved both physical rehabilitation and emotional adjustment to a dramatically altered future.

The incident raised difficult questions about responsibility, oversight, and whether established safety practices were fully followed.

Legal Action and Accountability

In the years following the crash, legal claims were filed by the families of the deceased and by the surviving pilot. These claims alleged that safety protocols were not adequately enforced and that operational pressures contributed to decisions that increased risk.

The legal process examined:

Aircraft maintenance records
Pilot training and familiarity documentation
Safety planning procedures
Communication between production staff and aviation personnel
The role of scheduling and budget considerations

The production companies involved disputed aspects of the claims, emphasizing that aviation operations included safety planning and that decisions were made by qualified professionals.

Ultimately, the cases were resolved through settlements. While legal closure was achieved, the outcomes did not diminish the emotional loss experienced by those affected.

The Broader Issue: Aviation Safety in Film Production

This incident did not occur in isolation. The history of filmmaking includes multiple examples where real-world risk intersected tragically with creative ambition.

Aviation, in particular, carries inherent risks that cannot be fully eliminated—only managed. When films rely on actual aircraft, they introduce variables that demand rigorous oversight, clear authority structures, and unambiguous safety priorities.

Industry analysts note that challenges increase when filming takes place internationally, where regulatory standards, enforcement mechanisms, and infrastructure may differ from those in the United States or other major production centers.

Learning From Past Incidents

The film industry has previously faced difficult lessons related to aerial filming. Earlier decades saw fatal accidents that prompted reforms, but institutional memory can fade over time, especially as personnel change and technologies evolve.

Safety experts stress that learning must be continuous, not reactive. Each incident should reinforce—not replace—existing commitments to safety culture.

Shifts in Industry Practices Afterward

In the years following the American Made incident, many productions reevaluated their approach to aviation and high-risk activities. While changes did not stem from a single event alone, this tragedy contributed to a broader reassessment.

Key developments have included:

Increased use of digital effects to simulate flight and aerial movement
Independent safety officers with authority separate from production leadership
Clear stop-work policies allowing pilots and crew to halt operations without penalty
More detailed risk assessments prior to aviation activities
Improved documentation and oversight of aircraft readiness

These measures aim to ensure that creative goals never override fundamental safety principles.

The Human Cost Behind the Screen

For audiences, films are entertainment. For those who work behind the scenes, they are workplaces. The distinction matters.

Pilots, mechanics, and support crew trust that their expertise will be respected and that safety concerns will be taken seriously. When that trust is compromised, the consequences extend far beyond any single production.

The individuals involved in the 2015 incident were not characters—they were professionals with families, aspirations, and lives beyond the set.

Viewing the Film Through a Different Lens

Today, American Made continues to be viewed and discussed for its performances and storytelling. Many viewers are unaware of the behind-the-scenes events that occurred during its production.

For those connected to the incident, the film carries a different meaning. It represents a chapter marked by loss, recovery, and unresolved emotion.

This dual reality highlights the importance of transparency and respect when discussing production histories.

Ethical Responsibility in High-Risk Professions

The incident renewed discussion about ethical responsibility in industries that combine creative ambition with physical risk. Ethical production requires more than compliance with minimum standards—it requires a culture where safety is deeply embedded.

That culture depends on:

Listening to concerns
Empowering professionals to speak up
Separating safety decisions from financial pressure
Prioritizing human well-being over deadlines

When these principles guide decision-making, tragedies become far less likely.

Remembering Without Sensationalizing

It is possible—and necessary—to remember serious incidents without turning them into spectacle. Respectful discussion focuses on learning, prevention, and honoring those affected.

The aviation professionals involved deserve to be remembered for their skills and contributions, not solely for the circumstances of their final flight.

Long-Term Impact on Survivors and Families

For the surviving pilot, recovery involved adapting to a new reality. Serious injuries can alter not only physical ability but identity, especially in professions defined by specialized skills.

Families who lost loved ones faced grief compounded by public attention and legal processes. Their experiences underscore the lasting ripple effects of workplace accidents.

Support systems—both formal and informal—play a crucial role in helping individuals navigate such challenges.

The Importance of Continuous Oversight

Safety is not static. As technologies evolve and productions become more complex, oversight must evolve as well.

Regular audits, updated training, and cross-industry collaboration help ensure that lessons learned remain active rather than forgotten.

Moving Forward: What the Industry Can Carry With It

The tragedy associated with the production of American Made serves as a reminder that realism should never come at the expense of safety. Authentic storytelling can coexist with responsible practices when careful planning and ethical leadership guide decisions.

The most meaningful legacy of the incident lies not in the film itself, but in the changes it helped reinforce—changes that aim to protect those who bring stories to life.

Conclusion: Safety as the True Measure of Professionalism

Behind every flight, every scene, and every production schedule are real people placing trust in systems designed to protect them. The 2015 aviation incident during the production of American Made demonstrated what can happen when that trust is strained.

The loss of life and life-altering injury were profound and irreversible. Yet from tragedy can come understanding, reform, and renewed commitment to doing better.

True professionalism in filmmaking—and in any industry involving risk—is not defined by how much danger can be managed, but by how effectively danger is minimized. No film, no matter how compelling, is worth more than a human life.

By remembering this, industries honor those who have been lost and help ensure that future work proceeds with care, respect, and responsibility.