Actor Harrison Ford reportedly had a close call this week when landing his single-engine Husky at California’s John Wayne Airport (SNA).
Ford, an experienced pilot and noted aviation advocate, flew over an airliner full of passengers and landed on a commercial airport taxiway, according to NBC News. The FAA says it’s investigating the incident.
“Air traffic controllers cleared the pilot of a single-engine Aviat Husky to land on Runway 20L at John Wayne Airport Monday afternoon,” FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said in a prepared statement. “The pilot correctly read back the clearance. The pilot then landed on a taxiway that runs parallel to the runway, overflying a Boeing 737 that was holding short of the runway.”
The 737, American Airlines Flight 1456, safely took off a few minutes later.
Ford reportedly asked air traffic control, “Was that airliner meant to be underneath me?”
Landing on a taxiway is a clear violation of FAA regulations, but it’s still unknown what action the agency will take after the investigation is completed.
Ford is a long-time pilot and aircraft owner who has been celebrated by groups like the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the Experimental Aircraft Association for his general aviation advocacy work.
