A weather-related plane crash in Medellin, Colombia has killed two crew members and injured a Georgia pilot who were working on the Tom Cruise movie "Mena," which filmed partly in metro Atlanta, the Associated Press reports.
Cruise was not aboard.
“The two people killed were identified as American film pilot Alan David Purwin and Colombian Carlos Berl,” the AP reports. “Another American pilot, Jimmy Lee Garland, has been severely injured and hospitalized in Medellin.”
Members of a community page are rallying prayers and support for Garland, a partner with S&S Aviation in Cherokee County. A member reported that he’s in surgery with “a broken arm, both legs broken, punctured lung, and spinal injuries.”
Purwin was chairman of Helinet, a Van Nuys, Calif. firm that provides aviation services to motion picture, news, charter, medical and government clients. Helinet CEO Steve Gatena posted a moving tribute to his friend and colleague:
"Alan Purwin was a great man, a world-renowned aviator, and a brilliant entrepreneur.
At Helinet, Alan was known for his passion, generosity, and ability to make us all feel as though we were a part of something much bigger than ourselves. We are deeply saddened by the loss of our heroic founder and our thoughts and prayers go out to the Purwin family.
Alan was both a pioneer in the film industry and committed philanthropist. His legacy includes many feats such as, conducting the first vital organ transplant mission in Los Angeles, supporting the first response rescue efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and being the only American Hollywood Movie Pilot to fly throughout the People's Republic of China.
Alan will be missed by everyone who has had the pleasure of knowing him. His entrepreneurial vision will be remembered by everyone who has had the pleasure of working with him. There are no words that can express our heartache for we have lost one of the world's greatest helicopter pilots and one of aviation's greatest leaders."
A representative at the Cherokee County Airport, who declined to be identified out of respect for her Garland's privacy, told The Associated Press that the producers of "Mena" shot several flight scenes at the facility and were so impressed with Garland's professionalism as a flying double for Cruise that they brought him to Colombia to continue filming there.
The Colombian official said Garland underwent three operations overnight and a specialist from the U.S. was arriving to assist in his recovery.
Cruise's spokeswoman, Amanda Lundberg, had no comment on Friday's accident and the film's director Doug Liman as well as local and US-based producers did not reply to emails and phone calls seeking comment.
"Our hearts and prayers go out to the crew members and their families at this difficult time," Universal Pictures, which is distributing the film, said in a statement. It declined further comment, saying more details weren't available.
Purwin was founder and president of Los Angeles-based Helinet Technologies. On the company's website, he's described as "one of the top film pilots of his generation" with a list of credits from television and major Hollywood movies such as "Transformers," ''Pearl Harbor" and "Pirates of the Caribbean."
"There are no words that can express our heartache for we have lost one of the world's greatest helicopter pilots and one of aviation's greatest leaders," Helinet CEO Steve Gatena said in a statement posted on the company's website.
In his last tweet sent Wednesday, Purwin expressed joy at flying between 12,000-foot peaks and posted a picture of a plane trailed by a helicopter landing at Santa Fe de Antioquia's dirt runway.
“Mena” filmed for several weeks in Ball Ground, and shot in Atlanta and Madison as well.
The Associated Press contributed to this story
WSBTV
