The actor was expected to survive after the plane he was piloting crash landed on a Venice golf course. Hetty Chang, Beverly White and Gadi Schwartz report for the NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, 2015. (Published Friday, March 6, 2015) 
 
 Harrison Ford Injured When His Plane Crash-Lands on Golf Course 
 
 Harrison Ford's family says the actor is "battered, but OK" after crash landing a single-engine vintage plane onto a Venice golf course shortly after takeoff Thursday. 
 
 Ford, an experienced pilot, was hospitalized and expected to undergo surgery for some injuries. His family said he is in stable condition. 
 
 Harrison Ford's Plane Crash Lands on Golf Course 
 
 The actor was hurt when the plane he was flying crashed onto a golf course. Angie Crouch reports for the NBC4 News at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, 2015. (Published Thursday, March 5, 2015) 
 
 "He is every bit the man you would think he is. He is an incredibly strong man. Thank you for all your thoughts and good vibes for my dad," Ben Ford, the actor's son, posted on his Twitter page. 
 
 Ford reported engine trouble shortly after takeoff and tried to return to the airport, according to the NTSB. His publicist said he was flying a World War II vintage plane at the time. 
 
 "He had no other choice but to make an emergency landing, which he did safely," his publicist said in a statement. "He was banged up and is in the hospital receiving medical care. The injuries sustained are not life threatening, and he is expected to make a full recovery." 
 
 Dr. Sanjay Khurana, a spinal surgeon on the course, braved a potentially explosive situation to help the actor. 
 
 Harrison Ford is Experienced Pilot 
 
 The actor was injured when the plane he was piloting crash landed into a golf course. Gadi Schwartz reports for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, 2015. (Published Thursday, March 5, 2015) 
 
 "I did a brief exam and I smelled the fuel and I didn't want it to ignite," he told NBC4. 
 
 As he was examining the pilot, the doctor realized he was looking at a familiar face. 
 
 "I watched 'Star Wars' as a kid. I think we all did, right? 'Raiders of the Lost Arc' ... iconic films. 
 
 "I wanted to do my best. I tried my best to help someone in distress." 
 
 Witnesses Saw Ford's Plane Clip Tree Before Crash Landing 
 
 Actor Harrison Ford was injured when the plane he was piloting crash landed on a golf course. Michelle Valles reports for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, 2015. (Published Thursday, March 5, 2015) 
 
 Aerial footage of the minutes after the crash showed the small single-engine vintage World War II trainer plane crashed on the ground at Penmar Golf Club. One person could be seen being treated by paramedics. 
 
 Fire and NTSB officials said the emergency landing was handled skillfully, and no one else was injured. 
 
 Firefighters described his injuries as "moderate." 
 
 In a 2008 interview with National Geographic, Ford talked about his love of flying. 
 
 Harrison Ford Hospitalized in Plane Crash Landing 
 
 The actor was piloting a small plane when it crash landed on a golf course. Beverly White reports for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, 2015. (Published Thursday, March 5, 2015) 
 
 "I fly myself everywhere. I like all kinds of flying, including practical flying for search and rescue. And I also like to fly into the backcountry, usually the Frank Church Wilderness in Idaho," the "Indiana Jones" actor told the magazine. "I go with a group of friends, and we set up camp for about five days and explore little dirt strips and canyons." 
 
 He also recalled helming a helicopter when it was forced to crash. 
 
 "Well, there was a mechanical failure while we were practicing power recovery autorotations. It was more or less a hard landing," he recalled. "Luckily, I was with another aviation professional and neither of us was hurt — and both of us are still flying." 
 
 The cause of Thursday's plane crash is not yet known. 
 
 RAW: Moments Before Ford Plane Crash 
 
 Exclusive cell phone video shows the moments before a plane piloted by actor Harrison Ford crashed on a golf course in Venice. (Published Thursday, March 5, 2015) 
 
 Witnesses saw the plane clip a tree before coming down. 
 
 "We saw this beautiful plane. It looks like a plane I see often, leaving from Santa Monica Airport," said Howard Teba, who was at the golf course when the plane crashed. "Must have hit the top of a tree." 
 
 Teba said it appeared that the pilot was the only person on board the plane. Two men who are apparently doctors were golfing at the time and came to the actor's aid, Teba said. 
 
 The plane crashed on the golf course just west of the airport shortly after takeoff from the Santa Monica Airport, according to Ian Gregor of the Federal Aviation Administration. 
 
 Ford's career in Hollywood took off after he starred as Han Solo in "Star Wars" in 1977, but it was his role as the adventurous protagonist in the "Indiana Jones" movies that became his most iconic. 
 
 After six decades of acting, the actor still stars in blockbuster hits like the baseball sports drama "42" and has signed on for another film reprising his futuristic thriller "Blade Runner." 
 
 ||||| Harrison Ford Plane Crashes [Video Update: Paramedics Treat Harrison] 
 
 Harrison Ford -- Plane Crashes ... Actor Seriously Injured (VIDEO UPDATE: Paramedics Treat Harrison) 
 
 6:20 PM PT -- A rep for Ford says, "Harrison was flying a WW2 vintage plane today which stalled upon takeoff." They added, "He had no other choice but to make an emergency landing, which he did safely. The injuries sustained are not life-threatening, and he is expected to make a full recovery." 
 
 5:05 PM PT -- TMZ just obtained video of first responders on the scene treating Harrison ... just yards away from the plane he just crash landed on the golf course. 
 
 5:00 PM PT -- Harrison's son Ben just tweeted, "At the hospital. Dad is ok. Battered, but ok! He is every bit the man you would think he is." 
 
 4:30 PM PT -- We've obtained intense audio of Harrison talking to the Santa Monica Airport control tower just moments after he'd taken off. Listen ... you hear him report engine failure and request an emergency return to the airport. 
 
 4:41 PM PT -- A witness who was golfing at the time of the crash tells us she heard the engine sputter ... and watched the plane do a "nose dive straight on the 8th hole tee box." 
 
 The witness adds, "I was one of the first people to run from the hole toward the plane. 4 to 5 men pulled the pilot out of the plane." 
 
 "They got him away from the plane. They were concerned it would catch on fire." 
 
 "Two doctors were there – and they had a 1st aid box with them. He was conscious, talking a little -- a HUGE cut on his head." 
 
 The witness tells us the cut was VERY deep -- "A swath of his skin was missing. There was blood dripping down his face." A small plane piloted by Harrison Ford has crash-landed at an L.A. golf course ... but we're told the actor has survived. 
 
 TMZ has learned ... Ford was piloting what appears to be a vintage 2-seater fighter plane Thursday ... when something went wrong and he crashed into Penmar golf course in Venice, CA. Remarkably, it appears Ford veered off course from the runway in order to avoid crashing into homes. 
 
 We're told Ford suffered multiple gashes to his head and was bleeding. Two doctors who happened to be at the golf course rushed over to treat the actor. 
 
 Emergency personnel arrived to the scene a short time later. Ford was transported to a nearby hospital. 
 
 72-year-old Ford is a longtime aviator -- piloting planes and helicopters -- and has crashed multiple times in the past. ||||| Story highlights Man who lives near crash site says he heard plane's engine cut off 
 
 Publicist says Ford was forced to land, will make full recovery 
 
 Fellow pilot says Harrison Ford is very skilled, safety-conscious 
 
 Venice, California (CNN) Actor Harrison Ford was "banged up" and hospitalized Thursday afternoon after a 1940s aircraft he was piloting crashed during a forced landing on a golf course, his publicist said. 
 
 "Harrison was flying a WW2 vintage plane today which had engine trouble upon takeoff," Ina Treciokas said. "He had no other choice but to make an emergency landing, which he did safely. He was banged up and is in the hospital receiving medical care. The injuries sustained are not life threatening, and he is expected to make a full recovery." 
 
 His son was with him at the hospital. 
 
 "Dad is ok. Battered, but ok! He is every bit the man you would think he is. He is an incredibly strong man," Ben Ford tweeted. 
 
 At the hospital. Dad is ok. Battered, but ok! He is every bit the man you would think he is. He is an incredibly strong man. — Chef Ben Ford (@ChefBenFord) March 6, 2015 
 
 Los Angeles Fire Department Assistant Chief Patrick Butler, who wouldn't identify Ford as the patient, said the pilot suffered moderate trauma and was "alert and conscious" when he was taken to the hospital. He said the pilot, the only person on board, was in fair to moderate condition. 
 
 Read More ||||| LOS ANGELES (AP) — An official says Harrison Ford crash-landed his vintage airplane at a Los Angeles golf course. He suffered moderate injuries. 
 
 This image from video provided by KABC-TV shows a small plane that crash-landed on the Penmar Golf Course in the Venice area of Los Angeles, Thursday, March 5, 2015. Authorities say the single-engine... (Associated Press) 
 
 A small plane lies where it crash-landed on Penmar Golf Course in the Venice area of Los Angeles on Thursday, March 5, 2015. The course is near the Santa Monica, Calif. Municipal Airport, just west of... (Associated Press) 
 
 Los Angeles fire officials say the single-engine plane went down at about 2:30 p.m. Thursday on the green at Penmar Golf Course in the Venice area of Los Angeles. 
 
 The pilot was breathing and conscious when he was taken to a hospital, where he was listed in fair to moderate condition. 
 
 Fire officials would not confirm the pilot's identity. 
 
 But an official familiar with the crash said Ford was the pilot. The official spoke only condition of anonymity because of privacy restrictions. 
 
 The 72-year-old "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" actor is an aviation enthusiast who often flies out of the airport.
– Harrison Ford had to crash-land his small plane on a golf course near Los Angeles today, but he appears to have escaped serious harm. "Dad is ok," tweeted son Ben Ford from the hospital. "Battered but ok!" The AP reports that the 72-year-old veteran pilot suffered "moderate injuries," and NBC Los Angeles says that includes cuts to the head. Ford reported engine trouble and requested permission to make an emergency return to the Santa Monica Airport soon after taking off, reports TMZ. He landed on the course in Venice instead, and two doctors who happened to be there treated him until he was taken to the hospital. NBC reports that he appeared to be flying solo in a WWII-era training plane, and CNN reports that he appeared to hit some trees on the way down. "There was blood all over his face," says an employee at Penmar Golf Course. "Two very fine doctors were treating him, taking good care of him. I helped put a blanket under his hip."