The legal battle lasted for years. Depositions, expert reports, and internal communications revealed the delicate—and dangerous—balance between filmmaking ambition and aviation realities. In 2019, the cases were settled for an undisclosed sum, providing legal closure but little emotional relief for the families and Garland, whose life had been irrevocably changed.

The tragedy forced Hollywood to confront a harsh truth: behind every daring aerial sequence are real people whose lives hang in the balance. Unlike actors, pilots and crew face irreversible consequences when things go wrong. The accident highlighted gaps in oversight, particularly for international productions, and echoed past warnings, including a fatal jet crash during Top Gun filming decades earlier.

Since then, Hollywood has taken steps to improve safety. Productions now often rely on CGI to reduce dangerous flights, and strict protocols are in place when planes are used. Independent safety officers, clear lines of authority, and the ability for pilots to ground aircraft without repercussions are now standard. Still, these measures came too late for those affected by the 2015 crash.

American Made continues to entertain audiences on streaming platforms, praised for its energy and daring tone. But for the families of Purwin and Berl, and for Garland, the film is a painful reminder of lives lost when ambition eclipses safety. It’s a stark lesson that no cinematic shot is worth a human life—and that true professionalism means respecting the limits of risk.