Harrison Ford 'battered, but OK' after golf course plane crash

Harrison Ford has cheated death in a plane crash.

The Hollywood star - famous for roles such as Hans Solo - was flying solo over Los Angeles when his engine failed.

His family say he is "battered, but OK."

ITV News' Washington Correspondent Robert Moore reports:

Harrison Ford's plane crash was "a very close call" after he managed to crash land on a golf course just a couple of hundred feet from homes, NBC News' Miguel Almaguer said.

Speaking to ITV News, Almaguer aid, "You can see the plane behind me and just in front of me a couple of hundred feet away is an entire neighbourhood, home after home".

"At this point Harrison Ford has not spoken to investigators," he added.

Harrison Ford was reportedly left bloodied with a "huge" cut on his head after the plane he was piloting crash-landed on a golf course.

A witness told entertainment website TMZ website, "Four to five men pulled the pilot out of the plane ... They were concerned it would catch on fire."

"Two doctors were there and they had a first aid box with them. He was conscious, talking a little [with] a huge cut on his head. A swath of his skin was missing. There was blood dripping down his face."

Harrison Ford calmly requested an immediate return to the airfield when the engine failed of the small plane he was flying

In an audio recording of his conversation with the airport tower, Ford can be heard saying, "Engine failure, immediate return" before he is cleared to land.

The audio was published by LiveATC.net.

Star Wars actor Mark Hamill has tweeted his relief that co-star Harrison Ford is expected to recover fully from a plane crash.

Writing on Twitter, Hamill - who played Luke Skywalker in the film series - said he hoped all Ford's future flights were on "green screen".

Harrison Ford's publicist has said the actor is "expected to make a full recovery" after his plane crashed in California.

In a statement via email to NBC News, Slate PR said: "Harrison was flying a WW2 vintage plane today which had engine trouble upon take off. 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."

Harrison Ford's son has tweeted from hospital to say that his father is "battered, but OK" after a plane crash in California.

Chef Ben Ford also thanked people for their support after the Star Wars and Indiana Jones actor was hospitalised.

Harrison Ford is now being described as suffering "fair to moderate" injury following his plane crash in Los Angeles, the city's fire department says.

The pilot of a plane crash in Los Angeles - believed to be Harrison Ford - was "alert and conscious" and in "moderate condition" when treated by emergency services, the Los Angeles Fire Department has said.

A spokesman for the fire services says the patient was fortunate not to have died or suffered more serious injuries in the crash.

A plane crash at a California golf course was caused by a "mechanical failure", Los Angeles Police Department says

LAPD spokeswoman Officer Nuria Vanegas said: "We can confirm that there was a plane crash and the male occupant was a 65-70 years old man.

"He was transported to a local hospital in stable condition,"