Yahoo News Harrison Ford is 'happy' he's allowed to fly again after near collision with American Airlines plane
We imagine this sequence of events to be like a cut scene from ‘Raiders Of The Lost Ark’ – if Indiana Jones had ever been investigated for bringing down the German-built Flying Wing aircraft!
Harrison Ford (aka Indiana Jones) has released a statement saying he is “very happy” that he won’t be punished after nearly hitting an American Airlines flight with his private plane last year.
Harrison, 74, was flying his aircraft into John Wayne Airport near Orange County in February when he swoopped over and dangerously close to a commercial airliner.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) carried out an investigation but have decided to not to take any action – such as fine the star or revoke his license – following the incident.
Harrison – who owns a two-seater vintage World War II training plane – released a statement through his lawyer, Stephen Hofer, which read: “They conducted a full investigation into the matter. They interviewed Mr. Ford, they looked at all of the audio and video and computer evidence regarding the landing.
“After reviewing all of that they determined that no administrative or enforcement action was warranted. He retains his pilot certificate without any restrictions. He has been advised and is very happy about it.”
In audio from the day, the legendary actor can be heard telling the FAA he “the schmuck that landed on the taxiway” and made a mistake.
He said in the clip: “[I’m] the schmuck that landed on the taxiway. I was distracted by the airliner which was in movement when I turned to the runway and also the big turbulence from the landing.”
At the time of the incident, the FAA released a statement saying Harrison had been cleared to land on a certain runway but instead leanded on a taxiway “that runs parallel” to where he had ben told to land.
The statement read: “Air traffic controllers cleared the pilot of a single-engine Aviat Husky to land on Runway 20L at John Wayne Airport Monday afternoon.
“The pilot correctly read back the clearance. The pilot then landed on a taxiway that runs parallel to the runway, overflying a Boeing 737 that was holding short of the runway.”
Aside from avoiding crashing into commerical airliners, Harrison is pretty indestructable. He recovered after he was injured during a “textbook emergency landing” whilst flying his vintage aircraft back in 2015 – the plane came to rest on Penmar Golf Course in Venice, Los Angeles after it suffered engine failure however, the actor was praised for avoiding more populated areas.
And he broke his left leg after a malfunctioning hydraulic metal door crashed onto it on the set of ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ at Pinewood studios back in 2014.
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