Star Wars production company fined £1.6 million for injuring Harrison Ford

The production company behind Star Wars: The Force Awakens has been fined £1.6 million after Harrison Ford's leg was crushed by a hydraulic door during filming.

Ford was knocked to the ground and pinned down by the heavy door, which was part of the set of the Millennium Falcon spaceship.

The then 71-year-old, who was reprising his role as Han Solo, was airlifted to hospital in Oxford after suffering a broken leg.

The court heard how during dress rehearsals on the 12 June 2014 Harrison Ford walked back towards the entrance ramp of the Millennium Falcon and pressed the prop door button to ‘close’ the door.

As the cameras were not rolling he did not expect it to close and the production crew member who was operating the prop believed they were in full rehearsal and closed the door, Aylesbury Crown Court heard.

Health and Safety England's investigation found there was no automatic emergency cut off to protect those on set, instead relying on the reactions of the prop operator to bring the door to a stop.

Foodles Production (UK) Ltd was handed the fine at Aylesbury Crown Court for health and safety breaches.