We rank the 50 most memorable Star Wars deaths ever
By Ryan Wrenn
17. Arvel Crynyd
When Did They Die: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Who Were They: A Rebel Alliance fighter pilot
How Did They Die: Clipped by turbolaser fight on an attack on the Star Destroyer Executor, Crynyd crashed his doomed fighter into the bridge of its target, sending the whole vessel careening out of control into the surface of the Death Star
Never heard of our boy Arvel? Well, even if you don’t know the name, you probably know his primary accomplishment: accidentally destroying the greatest Star Destroyer in existence.
Shortly after Admiral Ackbar had ordered all fire to be concentrated on Admiral Piett’s Executor, Arvel found himself spiralling toward the massive starship’s bridge. Plunging into it essentially killed the ship’s brain, dooming it to crash into the about-to-explode Death Star.
It’s a spectacular death for such a lowly and unheralded character like Arvel. Unlike Jek Porkins or Biggs Darklighter, he’s not even given a name in the movie itself. We only know who he is, really, because of the ending credits.
Still, it’s pilots like Arvel that kept the Rebel fleet in contention for long enough for the Death Star’s shields to drop and allow access to its vulnerable core.
Next: 16. Dak