Harrison Ford has outrun boulders as Indiana Jones and survived countless on-screen perils as Han Solo. Off-screen, however, the danger has been all too real — particularly in the cockpit. At 83, Ford recently spoke candidly about the three plane accidents he has endured over the years and why he remains a dedicated pilot.
“I’m not afraid to crash,” Ford said. “I’m afraid of not flying.”
Ford, who earned his pilot’s license in the 1990s, has experienced several aviation incidents, including a 1999 helicopter crash, a 2015 emergency landing on a Santa Monica golf course, and a 2020 runway mishap in California. Each event carried significant risk. Reflecting on the 2015 crash in a Ryan PT-22 Recruit, he recalled, “The engine failed at 3,000 feet, and I didn’t have time to think. It’s just instinct — you do what you’re trained to do and hope it’s enough.”
For most, such experiences might have ended a flying career. But for Ford, aviation is more than a pastime — it’s a source of clarity and focus. “Flying is the one place I feel completely present,” he explained. “When I’m in the air, there’s no Hollywood, no noise, no past, no future. It’s just me, the machine, and the sky. That’s freedom.”
Ford’s love for flight extends beyond personal enjoyment. Over the years, he has owned more than a dozen aircraft, from vintage warbirds to modern private planes, and has volunteered with the Aviation Rescue Foundation, flying missions to help locate lost hikers and deliver medical supplies to remote areas. “I’ve seen flying save lives,” he said. “It’s not about adrenaline — it’s about purpose.”
Age has altered his approach, but not his passion. “I’m not 40 anymore,” he laughed. “I go slower, I double-check everything, and my wife makes sure I eat before I fly. But I’ll keep doing it as long as I can see straight and think clearly.”
When asked about fear, Ford acknowledged its presence. “Of course,” he said. “You’d be a fool not to respect the risk. But fear isn’t the point — control is. Every time I take off, I know there’s a chance something could go wrong. But that’s life, isn’t it? You fly anyway.”
For Ford, flying isn’t about thrill-seeking — it’s a form of meditation. “People think I’m some kind of daredevil,” he mused. “But the truth is, flying calms me. It’s meditation with a propeller.”
As for retirement, Ford remains steadfast. “When the day comes that I can’t fly,” he said with a grin, “that’s when I’ll really start worrying.”
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