THIS is Harrison Ford like you have never seen him before. Caked in blood, strapped to a gurney, bandaged and looking close to death.
It’s the scene moments after he was pulled from the wreckage of a WW2-era plane that came perilously close to snuffing out the life of one of Hollywood’s top film legends.
In a series of blockbuster world exclusive photos, The National ENQUIRER can detail – for the first time – the dramatic incident that confronted first responders on March 5 at the Penmar Golf Course in Venice, Calif., where the “Indiana Jones” star’s 1942 Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR crash landed in a turf-tearing blaze of horror.
But behind his life or death decisions inside the cockpit are a series of haunting secrets that plague the 72-year-old – decisions that ultimately saved his life, marriage and a 49-year Tinseltown career, The ENQUIRER has learned. With a broken ankle, pelvis and severe head lacerations, an ailing Harrison is now “traumatized,” with some insiders even questioning if the man who made the character Han Solo famous for his space flights in “Star Wars” will ever make a movie again.
“Harrison’s been in dangerous situations before in the air, but this time he almost met his maker,” one close pal confided to The ENQUIRER.
“It’s clear he’s going to be haunted by this crash for his remaining days – and it’s going to leave mental scars worse than the public can ever imagine.”
Harrison was just minutes away from where he’d taken off, Santa Monica Airport, when he had to contact the air control tower with the words that all pilots dread: “Engine failure – immediate return.”
That was right before the engine of his plane began to sputter to a grinding halt – at a tormenting 3,000 feet above ground!
“It’s going down, so you don’t have a lot of time,” aviation expert David Paqua told The ENQUIRER, as he recreated what really happened in those final moments. “You pick a spot to land and deal with it.”
The father of five had no more than a minute to execute a difficult “chandelle,” an aviation term for turning at 180 degrees while coaxing the plane to climb at maximum speed.
But now, the veteran aviator is also facing an “ultimatum” from his “Ally McBeal” actress wife Calista Flockhart, 50, for the sake of the couple’s adopted 14-year-old son, Liam, according to a friend.
“Calista is thankful that Harrison survived, but she’s ready to tell him, ‘Your flying days are OVER!’” revealed the insider.
FOR the FULL STORY and to SEE the Exclusive Photos it’s ONLY in the new ENQUIRER – on sale NOW!
