During the making of American Made, a film built on daring aviation, real tragedy struck behind the scenes. In September 2015, a twin-engine plane hired for filming crashed in Colombia, killing pilots Andrew Purwin and Carlos Berl and leaving Jimmy Lee Garland with life-ending injuries. Reports later revealed concerns about the aircraft’s condition, worsening weather, and pressure to fly despite risks. Lawsuits accused the production of negligence and safety failures, and the cases were settled in 2019—closing the legal chapter, but not the lasting human cost.
