WATCH ABOVE: The NTSB investigating cause of Harrison Ford’s plane accident. Jackson Proskow has the latest.
TORONTO — Actor Harrison Ford was injured and taken to hospital Thursday afternoon when the vintage plane he was flying crashed onto a California golf course.
Ford, 72, was piloting a two-seat Ryan PT-22 Recruit single-engine plane that went down just before 2:30 p.m. local time at Penmar Golf Course in Venice, two blocks from the Santa Monica airport.
In a recording of the Santa Monica airport’s control tower communications, Ford is heard saying: “Engine failure. Requesting immediate return.”
A rep for Ford said: “Harrison was flying a WW2 vintage plane today which stalled upon takeoff. He had no other choice but to make an emergency landing, which he did safely. The injuries sustained are not life-threatening, and he is expected to make a full recovery.”
The Los Angeles Times reported the actor was conscious and breathing when paramedics arrived. TMZ said Ford suffered multiple gashes to his head and was bleeding when two doctors at the golf course rushed over to treat the actor.
VIDEO GALLERY:
Patrick Butler of the Los Angeles Fire Department said during a press conference the pilot suffered “moderate trauma,” and was the sole person on the plane. He could not identify the pilot, citing privacy laws.
Harrison Ford’s son Ben, tweeted that his father was “battered” but okay.
No one on the ground was injured.
NFL Network reporter Andrew Sicilano tweeted several photos of the crash.
Ford is licensed as a pilot of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. In 1999, he crashed a helicopter during a training flight in Santa Clarita, California. He was not injured.
Ford is known for playing Han Solo in the original trilogy Star Wars trilogy. He was injured last year during filming of the forthcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
It was recently announced that he will reprise his role as Rick Deckard in a Blade Runner sequel.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is co-ordinating with the National Transportation Safety Board to investigate the cause of the crash.
– with files by John R. Kennedy / Global News
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