Two people died after a twin-engine Piper-Aerostar 600 plane, which was carrying crew members of the film "Mena" starring Tom Cruise, crashed in Colombia, according to a report from The Telegraph. Ariel Bedoya of Aerocivil indicates the time and location of the accident at 5:30 pm in a mountainous area in the town of San Pedro de los Milagros.
The Associated Press reports that details and cause of the said crash are not yet disclosed as officials of the aviation agency are not authorized to do so. However, they stated that the accident had two fatalities, and a third person was "seriously injured." The crew members that were killed were pilots Alan Purwin and Carlos Berl while Jimmy Lee Garland, another pilot, survived.
The official, via the Associated Press, said that they are waiting for the opportunity to talk to Garland as he serves as the "black box" on what happened.
The crash occurred a day after filming with the "Mena" crew while en route the city of Medellin. Following a distress signal, aviation officials located the aircraft "below a high ridge" and rescuers immediately arrived. As per CNN, Garland was rushed to Pablo Tobón Uribe Hospital. He suffered injuries to his legs, arms, face and chest, per the San Pedro de los Milagros Fire Department.
According to Deadline, Cruise and director Dough Liman were not aboard the said plane, but they are "very shaken up" over the tragedy.
“An aircraft carrying crew members crashed while returning to Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport in Medellin following production wrap on the film Mena resulting in two fatalities. Further details are not available at this time. On behalf of the production, our hearts and prayers go out to the crew members and their families at this difficult time," said a spokesperson from Universal Pictures, distributor of "Mena," in a statement.
Associated Press notes that's Colombia is "one of the most dangerous places in the world for aviators" because of its "jagged terrain, heavy rainfall and long, empty distances." The Olaya Herrera airport had many accidents in the past including a crash that killed Carlos Gardel, a famous tango singer from Argentina.
Per a separate report from The Telegraph, "Mena" stars Tom Cruise where he plays the character of real-life pilot turned drug smuggler, Barry Seal. After being fired from his job in U.S. aviation, seal played a major part in the Medellin drug cartel using the alias "Mackenzie McPickles."
- Contribute to this Story:
- Send us a tip
- Send us a photo or video
- Suggest a correction
