Tom Cruise’s portrayal of pilot Barry Seal in American Made took a tragic turn during filming. In September 2015, a crash in Colombia involving three pilots—Carlos Berl, Jimmy Lee Garland, and Andrew Purwin—resulted in two fatalities and serious injuries to Garland. Berl, despite being experienced, had concerns about flying the unfamiliar Aerostar 600. Garland, who also served as Cruise’s double, was killed, while Purwin, known for risky stunts, had a controversial aviation record. The crash, caused by bad weather, occurred under pressure to depart quickly. Lawsuits later raised questions about safety and negligence during production.
