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Harrison Ford admits making error on runway at California airport

The incident happened after Ford, 77, misheard radio instructions at Hawthorne's airport last week, a spokesperson said. The actor apologized for the error.
Posted at 4:59 AM, Apr 30, 2020
and last updated 2020-04-30 07:59:31-04

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating an incident on a runway at a Southern California airport involving a plane flown by actor and pilot Harrison Ford.

"The pilot of an Aviat Husky taxied across the runway at Hawthorne Municipal Airport Friday afternoon while another aircraft was performing a touch-and-go landing" last week, the Federal Aviation Administration said. Hawthorne is a city in southwest Los Angeles County.

The Husky was piloted by Ford. It crossed the western edge of the runway while the other plane was taking off around 3,600 feet to the east, the agency said.

A spokeswoman for the "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" star, 77, said "no one was injured and there was never any danger of a collision."

Ford "crossed the airport's only runway in his aircraft after he misheard a radio instruction" from air traffic control, Ford's spokeswoman said in a statement.

"He immediately acknowledged the mistake and apologized to ATC for the error," the spokeswoman said, referring to air traffic control. "The purpose of the flight was to maintain currency and proficiency in the aircraft."
sIn 2017, Ford mistakenly landed on a taxiway at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, while piloting his yellow single-engine Aviat Husky.

Ford flew over the top of an American Airlines 737 with 110 passengers onboard that was preparing to taxi into position for takeoff.

The FAA investigated, and Ford was not fined or required to undergo remedial pilot training following the incident, NBC News reported at the time.

Ford was said by sources to have been extremely apologetic and met with FAA investigators.

He is a collector of vintage aircraft and has held a private pilot's license for more than 20 years.

In March 2015, he was injured when his World War II-era trainer crashed on a Los Angeles golf course.