Producer Sorry For Film's Real Air Crash Scene

Hollywood producer Michael Bay has agreed to remove footage of a real-life plane crash from a new film after complaints from the victims' families.

The Transformers film-maker has apologised for the inclusion of video of a 1994 B-52 Air Force crash in Project Almanac.

The families of two of the victims - Colonel Robert Wolff and Lieutenant Colonel Mark McGeehan - told Air Force Times they were "disappointed" that the clip was being used in a different context to the actual event.

In the trailer for the film, the cast can be seen watching the crash on the news.

The Times reports that Paramount Pictures told the victims' families that the clip is of a 2009 crash that happened in Tokyo, not the 1994 wreck.

But the families said they were positive it showed the crash which killed the men.

Bay, who is a producer on the film, said he did not realise that first-time director Dean Israelite had used real footage instead of CGI effects.

In a statement he said: "I let film directors make their movies at Platinum Dunes [Bay's production company] and give them tremendous responsibilities.

"Well, unfortunately a very bad choice was made to use a real crash instead of creating a VFX [visual effects] shot, without realising the impact it could have on the families.

"I want to also extend my deepest apology to the families, and also to the US Air Force."

Col Wolff's daughter, Whitney Wolff Thompson, said in an email to the Air Force Times that she accepted Bay's apology.

"Mr Bay, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your apology and your quick response to this," she wrote.

"I appreciate your willingness to admit that this was indeed a real plane crash, and that a mistake was made in choosing to use it."

The film, about teenagers who find plans for a time machine and decide to build it, is due for release on 30 January in the US.

It hits UK cinemas on 20 February.