Harrison Ford 'involved in a near-miss while trying to land his plane'

Harrison Ford was reportedly involved in a near-miss while trying to land his plane in California.

Ford, 74, was piloting a private, single-engine Aviat Husky when he mistook a taxiway for a runway at John Wayne airport, NBC News reported.

The Star Wars actor was cleared to land on a runway, but instead flew over the top of an American Airlines plane awaiting take-off to land on a taxiway.

Some 110 passengers and six crew members were on board the airliner, which was travelling to Dallas, Texas.

The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation which could result in a warning letter or Ford losing his licence as landing on a taxiway is a safety violation.

Ford is quoted as asking air traffic controllers: “Was that airliner meant to be underneath me?”

FAA spokesman Ian Gregor could not confirm that Ford was piloting the Aviat Husky but told the Los Angeles Times: “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.”

He did not indicate how high the plane was when it flew over the airliner.

The FAA is investigating, Mr Gregor said.

Ford's publicist, Ina Treciokas, declined to comment.

It comes two years after Ford’s vintage plane crash-landed on a Santa Monica golf course. The crash was blamed on engine failure.

In 1999, he crash-landed his helicopter during a training flight in Los Angeles. Both he and the instructor were unhurt.