Southwest
'Top Gun: Maverick' flight instructor's final moments caught on video before New Mexico air show crash
A “Top Gun: Maverick” flight instructor’s final moments before he plunged to his death in a crash at a New Mexico air show have been captured on video.
Footage taken by spectator Terre Blevins shows the aircraft flown by Charles “Chuck” Coleman spiraling downward on Sunday before slamming into the ground at the Las Cruces International Airport. Coleman was participating in an aerobatics performance at the Las Cruces Air and Space Expo.
“It was this big puff of dirt,” Blevins told The Las Cruces Bulletin while recounting the crash, “and then I looked at the security guard next to me. I’m like, ‘Did he crash?’ And she just took off running.”
An announcer in the video could be heard telling spectators immediately following the crash to “please stay off” social media and that emergency crews were responding to the scene.
NAVY IDENTIFIES 2 CREW MEMBERS KILLED IN WASHINGTON STATE JET CRASH
The plane flown by Charles Coleman is seen falling out of the sky on Sunday, Oct. 20 during an air show in Las Cruces, New Mexico. (Terre Blevins/TMX )
Coleman’s website says he was a “flight instructor with over 10,000 hours total flight time” and “flew 140 flights in order to prepare the actors to fly in Navy F-18 Hornets” in the movie “Top Gun: Maverick.”
“Chuck was our aerobatics flight instructor and instrumental in our preparation for Top Gun: Maverick. He was an aerospace engineer, air show and test pilot, and our friend and ally,” Miles Teller, one of the stars of the film who played the role of Lt. Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, wrote on X.
Charles “Chuck” Coleman is seen performing at the Las Cruces Air and Space Expo in the moments leading up to the crash. (Terre Blevins/TMX )
FIERY HOUSTON RADIO TOWER HELICOPTER CRASH CAPTURED ON SURVEILLANCE VIDEO
“Chuck had a very easygoing way about him and we always felt comfortable with his expertise at our disposal. He was kind, humble and curious about others and the world we live in,” Teller added. “Gone too soon but his contributions will live on forever. Thanks for the memories, Chuck.”
The National Transportation Safety Board told KFOX 14 that it is investigating the crash of the Extra Flugzeugbau GMBH EA 300/L airplane, which happened around 2:30 p.m. local time on Sunday.
Video recorded by a spectator shows the plane crashing at Las Cruces International Airport. The aircraft is shown here disappearing behind another that was parked on the tarmac in the moments before impact. (Terre Blevins/TMX )
“Unfortunately, we had a tragic ending to our Air and Space Expo this weekend,” Las Cruces Mayor Eric Enriquez was quoted as saying Monday. “We would like to extend our deepest condolences to the loved ones and fans of Chuck Coleman.”
Read the full article from Here
Los Angeles, Ca
Pasadena motorist knocked unconscious in unprovoked assault after other driver flashes high beams at him
A motorist was rendered unconscious after what authorities are calling an unprovoked attack that occurred after another driver flashed their high beams at him, authorities say.
According to the Pasadena Police Department, the victim, a 63-year-old man, was driving northbound on Raymond Avenue near Washington Boulevard when a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction flashed him around 1 a.m. Saturday.
“The victim reported that he was driving northbound on Raymond Avenue from Washington Boulevard when he observed a vehicle traveling southbound flashing its high beams at him,” a Pasadena Police Department spokesperson confirmed to KTLA. “The victim stated he stopped his vehicle and exited. He was then assaulted by an unknown suspect. The assault was unprovoked.”
The attack left the man unconscious and with a three-inch deep laceration to his head, police added. Upon regaining consciousness, the man transported himself to Huntington Hospital, and it was around 1:20 a.m. when police responded there to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon and began their investigation.
Upon arriving at the hospital, the victim told police that, due to his injuries, he was not able to provide a description of a suspect, vehicle or the weapon used, nor was he able to tell police the exact location where the assault occurred, although it was confirmed to be somewhere near Raymond Avenue and Washington Boulevard. La Pintoresca Park is located near that intersection.
No further details were immediately available.
Anyone with any information on the incident is asked to contact the Pasadena Police Department right away.
Sofia Pop Perez contributed to this report.
Los Angeles, Ca
Woman killed by driver while crossing PCH in Long Beach
A woman was struck and killed by a driver while crossing the street on Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach.
On June 3, the female pedestrian was using the crosswalk at Pacific Coast Highway and Pacific Avenue around 4:50 a.m.
She had walked against a red light and was hit by a 19-year-old driver in a Chevy sedan, Long Beach police said.
Despite lifesaving efforts, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation.
“At this time, impaired driving, distracted driving and excessive speed are not believed to be a factor in this collision,” police said.
The woman’s name is being withheld pending identification by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information on the incident is asked to call Detective Joseph Johnson at 562-570-7355.
Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.
Los Angeles, Ca
Man wanted for deadly Los Angeles road rage shooting extradited from Mexico
A man wanted for a deadly road rage shooting in Los Angeles was arrested and extradited from Mexico after fleeing the U.S. in 2024.
The suspect was identified as Christian Rojas, 21, of Bellflower, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Authorities had been searching for him since the deadly incident on October 10, 2024.
Rojas and a second suspect, Joshua Rojas Sr., 47, of Downey, were driving on the northbound 5 Freeway in Boyle Heights around 4 p.m. when they became involved in an altercation with another driver that escalated into a shooting.
Video of the tense confrontation showed the suspects, who were driving a Dodge Durango SUV, opening fire on two men in a Cadillac sedan.
The shooting forced the victim to pull over abruptly. That’s when a suspect ran up to the Cadillac, opened the passenger-side door and fired several shots at close range.
In a panic, the Cadillac driver tried to escape by making a sudden U-turn and driving against oncoming traffic. He eventually crashed head-on into several vehicles.
The suspects ditched their SUV and fled toward a freeway exit on foot. The Cadillac driver was left with serious injuries and his passenger was killed. Their identities were not released.
The incident caused a miles-long backup that left thousands of motorists stranded on the freeway for hours and authorities worked to clear the scene.
Following an extensive investigation, detectives identified the two men as the suspects involved.
Joshua Rojas Sr. was arrested in San Bernardino on October 22, 2024, on a murder charge. He remains in custody awaiting trial.
Meanwhile, Christian Rojas had fled the U.S. and was hiding in Mexico, detectives said. A $4.3 million bail warrant was issued for his arrest.
“Through a coordinated international effort, investigators determined that Rojas was living in Palomo de Arriba, Mexico,” CHP officials said. “The U.S. Marshals Service worked with Mexican state police to locate and arrest him on the outstanding warrant.”
On June 2, 2026, Christian was arrested and extradited to the U.S. to face a murder charge.
“This arrest demonstrates that time and distance will not shield violent offenders from justice,” said CHP Southern Division Chief Chris Margaris. “For nearly two years, our detectives remained relentless in their pursuit of those responsible for this senseless act of violence. Through exceptional collaboration with the United States Marshals Service and our law enforcement partners in Mexico, we located and apprehended this suspect and brought him back to face the charges. We remain committed to protecting the public, supporting victims and their families, and holding violent criminals accountable wherever they may try to hide.”
-
Business5 minutes agoEarwormy Kars4Kids jingle is back as charity appeals in California court
-
Entertainment12 minutes agoReview: A family braces for the worst, unsentimentally and with nuanced charm, in ‘Renoir’
-
Lifestyle15 minutes agoAt 100, Route 66 still beckons as a cross-country caravan takes off from Santa Monica
-
Politics20 minutes agoJudge pauses USDA plan to tie SNAP benefits to Trump’s gender, immigration ideology
-
Science27 minutes agoA flesh-eating worm from the 1960s is re-invading the U.S. Are CA cattle at risk?
-
Sports30 minutes agoNorth Carolina’s Jason DeCaro shuts out USC baseball to force decisive Game 3
-
World42 minutes agoD-Day 82nd anniversary honoured in France
-
News1 hour agoDespite a competitive market, finding a summer job is highly beneficial for teens





