Lois Larson
Harrison Ford is a revered pilot and actor known for his roles in the Star Wars and Indiana Jones films. He has been involved in several crashes and near misses, including a 2017 incident at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, where he mistakenly landed on a taxiway instead of the designated runway, flying over an American Airlines 737 with 110 passengers. Ford has also crash-landed a vintage plane on a Los Angeles golf course in 2015 and a helicopter in Ventura County, California, in 1999. Despite these incidents, Ford has been praised for his piloting skills and quick thinking in emergency situations, such as rerouting a crash landing away from suburban homes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport name | John Wayne Airport |
| Location | Orange County, California |
| Incident | Harrison Ford flew over a 737 jetliner carrying 100-116 passengers on a taxiway |
| Incident date | February 13, 2017 |
| Plane type | Single-engine Aviat Husky |
| Incident cause | Misheard radio instructions, distraction by airliner movement and wake turbulence |
| Outcome | No disciplinary action, retained pilot's certificate, required to take awareness training |
| Other incidents | Crash-landed a vintage plane on a Los Angeles golf course in 2015, crash-landed a helicopter in Ventura County in 1999, scraped runway during emergency landing in Nebraska in 2000 |
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What You'll Learn
- Harrison Ford's incident at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California
- Ford's history of plane crashes and emergency landings
- The Federal Aviation Administration's investigation into the John Wayne Airport incident
- Ford's history of collecting vintage aircraft
- The actor's history of volunteering for aviation programs
Harrison Ford's incident at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California
On February 13, 2017, actor and vintage plane enthusiast Harrison Ford was involved in a close call at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California. The incident occurred when the 74-year-old, who was piloting his private plane, a single-engine Aviat Husky, mistakenly landed on a taxiway instead of runway 20L, as instructed.
Before touching down, Ford flew very close to an American Airlines Boeing 737 with 110 passengers and a six-person crew onboard. The jet was waiting on another taxiway for instructions to take off. This situation posed a high risk, as pointed out by Michael Barr, a senior instructor at USC's Aviation Safety and Security Program. Barr explained that if Ford had stalled, the result could have been catastrophic.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigated the incident and concluded that no enforcement action was warranted. Ford, who has held a pilot's license for over 20 years and logged more than 5,000 hours of flight time, participated in "awareness training," the nature of which was not disclosed. He retained his pilot's certificate without restriction and faced no disciplinary action.
This incident at John Wayne Airport was not an isolated event in Harrison Ford's flying history. In March 2015, he crashed a World War II-era plane on the Penmar Golf Course in Santa Monica, California, due to engine failure. Additionally, in 1999, he crash-landed a helicopter during a training session in Ventura County, California, and in 2000, his six-seater Beechcraft scraped the runway during an emergency landing in Nebraska. Despite these incidents, Ford is revered as an excellent pilot and has even been inducted as a Living Legend of Aviation by the Kiddie Hawk Air Academy.
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Ford's history of plane crashes and emergency landings
Harrison Ford is an avid flyer and collector of vintage aircraft. He received his private pilot's license in the 1990s at the age of 53 and has logged over 5,000 hours in the air. Despite his extensive experience, Ford has been involved in several incidents over the years, including emergency landings, rescues, and runway incursions.
One of Ford's most notable incidents occurred in 2015 when he crash-landed a World War II-era trainer plane on the Penmar Golf Course in southern California. Ford suffered serious injuries, including a broken arm and head injuries, but he was lucky to escape with his life. A spokesperson for the Santa Monica Airport Association praised Ford's handling of the emergency landing, stating that he "saved several lives" by rerouting to the golf course instead of crashing into a suburban area.
In 1999, Ford experienced another close call when he crash-landed a helicopter during a training flight with an instructor. The helicopter was severely damaged, but Ford and his instructor escaped without injuries. The emergency landing occurred in a dry riverbed near Santa Clarita, California, 45 miles northwest of Los Angeles.
In 2000, Ford was involved in another incident at Lincoln Municipal Airport in Nebraska. While piloting a six-seater Beechcraft Bonanza, high wind gusts blew the aircraft off the runway. Ford lost control of the plane while steering it on the ground, but fortunately, neither he nor the aircraft sustained significant damage.
Ford has also had several close calls at California airports. In 2017, he mistakenly landed his single-engine Aviat Husky on a taxiway at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, flying directly over an American Airlines Boeing 737 with over 100 passengers on board. Ford admitted his mistake and underwent awareness training, but he did not face any disciplinary action. In 2020, another incident occurred at Hawthorne Airport outside Los Angeles, where Ford crossed the runway while another aircraft was taking off, although there was never any danger of a collision.
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The Federal Aviation Administration's investigation into the John Wayne Airport incident
The Federal Aviation Administration investigated an incident involving actor and pilot Harrison Ford at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California. On February 13, 2017, Ford landed his single-engine Aviat Husky on Taxiway C, flying very close to an American Airlines Boeing 737 with 100 to 110 passengers on board that was preparing for takeoff.
The FAA investigation concluded that no enforcement action was warranted, and Ford would not face any disciplinary actions or restrictions on his pilot's license. Instead, the agency required Ford to undergo "awareness training," which he had completed. FAA officials did not disclose the nature of the instruction Ford received.
Ford's attorney, Stephen Hofer, stated that his client had a long history of compliance with federal aviation regulations and had logged more than 5,000 hours of flight time without any previous incidents. Hofer also denied any suggestions of celebrity treatment, emphasizing that the FAA had, in recent years, preferred corrective action over stricter penalties.
This incident at John Wayne Airport was not Ford's first close call. In 2015, he crash-landed a vintage airplane on a Los Angeles golf course, and he has had other incidents involving aircraft in 1999, 2000, and 2020. Despite these incidents, Ford is revered as an excellent pilot in aviation circles and has been recognized for his contributions to aviation and search and rescue missions.
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Ford's history of collecting vintage aircraft
Harrison Ford is known for his impressive collection of vintage aircraft, private jets, and helicopters. Ford's passion for flying and vintage aircraft began when he was young, but due to the expense of lessons, he was unable to continue his hobby until later in life. After becoming a successful actor, Ford returned to aviation and gained his pilot's license at the age of 53.
Ford's collection includes a variety of vintage aircraft, such as a 1929 Waco Taperwing open-top biplane, a Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR trainer, and a de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver single-engine bush plane. He also owns a Bell 407 helicopter and a Cessna Citation Sovereign private jet. Ford's collection is estimated to be worth millions of dollars, and he has been known to fly his vintage planes himself, even offering his aviation skills to non-profit organizations.
Despite a few incidents over the years, including a crash landing in 2015 and several runway incursions, Ford remains an active pilot. He has been praised for his piloting skills and quick thinking in emergency situations. In one incident in 2015, Ford "saved several lives" by rerouting his crash landing to a golf course, avoiding a tract of suburban homes.
Ford's collection of vintage aircraft is housed at the Santa Monica Airport, and he routinely flies himself to and from his ranch in Wyoming. He has expressed his love for aviation and flying, stating that it gives him "freedom and pleasure." In addition to his vintage aircraft collection, Ford also owns a number of vintage cars and motorcycles, including a rare 1955 Jaguar XK 140.
Overall, Harrison Ford's collection of vintage aircraft is a testament to his passion for aviation and his dedication to the hobby. He has been a respected and experienced pilot for over 20 years, logging thousands of flying hours and supporting various aviation programs and humanitarian organizations.
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The actor's history of volunteering for aviation programs
Harrison Ford is a revered pilot in aviation circles and has been involved with several aviation programs over the years. His love for flying and his belief in its utilitarian benefits have prompted a natural willingness to promote aviation to others.
Ford joined the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) in 2009 to promote and advance the role of general aviation within the transportation industry. He has also been the national spokesman of the General Aviation Serves America campaign, which strives to improve the perception of general aviation.
Ford served as Honorary Chairman of the Experimental Aircraft Association's Young Eagles program from 2004 to 2009, motivating tens of thousands of volunteers to mentor, fly, and introduce 500,000 young people to aviation. He personally took over 300 Young Eagles on their first flights. He has been recognized for "engaging our nation's youth in aviation and inspiring tomorrow's leaders, innovators, and enthusiasts to secure a strong future for aviation."
In addition to his work with the Young Eagles, Ford has volunteered his helicopter and flying skills in search and rescue efforts. In 2010, he flew his Bell 407 to rescue a stranded hiker near his Wyoming ranch. He also used his Cessna Caravan to transport doctors and medical supplies to Haiti after the earthquake and has transported athletes to the Special Olympics.
Ford has also been involved in several other aviation groups and has been recognized for his contributions to the aviation community. He was inducted by the Kiddie Hawk Air Academy as a Living Legend of Aviation and has received the Freedom of Flight Award and the Lindbergh Foundation Award.
Despite his involvement in several aviation incidents, including a near collision with a jetliner at John Wayne Airport in 2017, Ford has maintained his commitment to volunteering and promoting aviation. He is a licensed pilot of both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters and owns several aircraft, including a de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver, a Bell 407GX helicopter, and a Cessna Citation Sovereign private jet.
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Frequently asked questions
John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California.
Ford mistakenly landed on a taxiway instead of the designated runway, flying over an American Airlines 737 with 110 passengers onboard.
No, Ford did not face disciplinary action. He did, however, complete awareness training.
Yes, Ford has had several crashes and incidents over the years, including a crash landing on a Los Angeles golf course in 2015 and a helicopter crash in 1999.
