FAA investigates after actor Harrison Ford is involved in another runway incident at a Southern California airport

Actor Harrison Ford is again the subject of a Federal Aviation Administration investigation after he crossed a runway while another plane was approaching for a touch-and-go landing last week at Hawthorne Municipal Airport, authorities said.

Ford was piloting an Aviat Husky and preparing to take off Friday afternoon, April 24, when a tower operator told him to hold short of the runway, according to archived audio from the tower.

Ford, however, told the tower he was crossing, prompting a stern reply from the operator to “get across that runway now.”

“I told you to hold short, you need to listen up,” the operator said.

“Excuse me, sir, I thought exactly the opposite. I’m terribly sorry,” Ford replied.

Though not as serious as other mishaps in the 77-year-old actor’s aviation ventures, the FAA was still looking into the incident, a spokesperson said.

What might come of the investigation wasn’t immediately known and the spokesperson said Wednesday, April 29, that there was no time frame for the investigation, which could include audio, radar replays and an interview with the pilot.

The FAA spokesperson could not say where the investigation may lead.

The other aircraft was approximately 3,600 feet to the east when Ford crossed the runway and there was no danger of a crash, the spokesperson said.

“Mr. Ford crossed the airport’s only runway in his aircraft after he misheard a radio instruction from ATC,” a representative said in a statement. “He immediately acknowledged the mistake and apologized to ATC for the error. The purpose of the flight was to maintain currency and proficiency in the aircraft.”

The incident wasn’t Ford’s first involving aircraft in Southern California. In 2015, Ford had to perform an emergency landing at a Penmar Golf Course in Venice near the Santa Monica Airport due to a loss of engine power.

Ford suffered a broken arm and minor head injuries as a result of the crash.

In February 2017, an FAA investigation was launched after Ford flew an Aviat Husky directly over a taxiing passenger jet at John Wayne Airport and landed on the taxiway instead of the runway. Ford was cleared to land on the runway by air traffic controllers.

No restrictions were placed on Ford’s pilot’s license following another investigation by the FAA.