Actor Harrison Ford, who brought to life characters like Indiana Jones and Han Solo, sustained injuries this afternoon after a small plane he was piloting crash-landed on a golf course in Los Angeles. Around 2:30PM PT the actor's plane crashed at the Penmar Gold Course near Venice, California. In audio obtained by TMZ, you can hear Ford report "engine failure" to the Santa Monica Airport control tower, announcing "immediate return."
According to NBC News he suffered lacerations to the head and potentially fractures, but authorities are now characterizing his injuries as "fair to moderate." Ford's own son Ben posted his own update to Twitter, saying his father was "Battered, but ok!"
At the hospital. Dad is ok. Battered, but ok! He is every bit the man you would think he is. He is an incredibly strong man.
— Chef Ben Ford (@ChefBenFord) March 6, 2015
Ford was treated at the site of the incident and transported to a local hospital where he is currently receiving treatment. At the time, the Los Angeles Fire Department stated that the actor was being transported in critical condition, though that status has obviously been downgraded since. TMZ was first to report that the accident had taken place.
That is a definitely a plane in front of the 8th green at Penmar in Venice. Pilot allegedly walked away. Wow. pic.twitter.com/2OXYJOdBu1
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) March 5, 2015
Ford has been a pilot for decades
Ford is well-known as an avid fan of flying, and has been a pilot for decades. According to reports — and several pictures that made their way online — the aircraft in question was a single-engine plane. The incident isn't the first time the actor has dealt with a crash; in 1999 he was in a helicopter with an instructor when the aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing. Ford, 73, also broke his leg last year while shooting Star Wars: The Force Awakens. That injury sidelined him from shooting, though the film took a two-week hiatus and was able to resume after Ford's injury healed. The actor is next scheduled to begin shooting the long-awaited sequel to Blade Runner in 2016, under the guidance of director Denis Villeneuve.
Update, 7:45PM ET: The post has been updated with Harrison Ford's latest condition per the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Update, 8:20PM ET: Added Ben Ford's tweet.