Harrison Ford injured in small plane crash at California golf course

By Emily Yahr March 5 at 7:18 PM

Harrison Ford, 72, was hospitalized on Thursday afternoon after he crashed his small vintage plane into a golf course in Venice, Calif., according to multiple reports.

At a news conference, the Los Angeles Fire Department would not identify the victim of the crash, citing privacy laws, but said an “approximately” 70-year-old male was taken to the hospital in “fair to moderate” condition. He was alert and conscious, but suffered “moderate” trauma, the fire department spokesman added.

Harrison Ford crash-landed his vintage airplane at a Los Angeles golf course Thursday, an official said. He suffered moderate injuries and was taken to a hospital. (AP)

Ford’s son, Ben Ford, later tweeted: “Dad is ok. Battered, but ok!”

On Thursday, KTLA reported that a man was injured after his small plane crashed on the Penmar Golf Course and he was taken to a nearby hospital. Outlets including TMZ and Variety identified the pilot as Ford, the 72-year-old actor known as an aviation enthusiast. TMZ said Ford had “multiple gashes to his head and was bleeding.”

An employee at the Penmar Golf Course told NBC News: ‘There was blood all over his face … Two very fine doctors were treating him, taking good care of him. I helped put a blanket under his hip.”

KTLA said that Ford tried to take off from Santa Monica airport toward the ocean, but mechanical problems forced him bring the plane down on the golf course. Witnesses told the station he was able to “basically walk away from the aircraft,” but was then taken away in an ambulance.

Photos of the crash (and Ford’s vintage two-seat military plane) started making their way around Twitter:

Ford, set to star in “Star Wars: Episode VII” this year, has crashed before – in Nebraska in 2000, just months after he crash-landed a helicopter in Los Angeles. He was also injured last year on the “Star Wars” set when he broke his leg and required surgery.

In 2013, Ford paid a visit to Capitol Hill to urge the House General Aviation Caucus (in the wake of FAA budget cuts) to save jobs at small airports around the country. He also talked about his passion for flying planes: “Aviation helped me reinvent my life,” he said.