Helen Mirren Shares Harrison Ford’s Near-Fatal Plane Crash Past

Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren’s Bond from ‘1923’ Leads to a Special Award Moment

Between 2022 and 2025, fans of Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone franchise had the opportunity to see Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren co-star in 1923. The two actors shared a strong connection during their time working on the series, which later led to a memorable moment when Ford presented Mirren with a major award. This event highlighted not only their professional relationship but also the deep respect they have for each other.

A Unique Insight into Ford’s Performance

Months before the awards show, Mirren shared an interesting story about how Ford’s performance in 1923 was influenced by his own experiences. She revealed that part of his portrayal was inspired by a near-fatal plane crash that left him "dying and covered in blood." This incident is one of several aviation-related accidents that Ford has been involved in, many of which are often overlooked by the public.

Ford’s Words of Praise for Mirren

On January 9th, 2026, USA Today published an article detailing the moment when Harrison Ford presented Helen Mirren with the Cecil B. DeMille Award. During this event, Ford spoke highly of Mirren, describing her as a "badass" both as a person and an artist. He emphasized that she embodies qualities such as being raw, authentic, formidable, tough, and fearless, which perfectly aligns with who she is as a woman and an artist.

Mirren’s Reflection on Ford’s Experience

This praise from Ford made it even more intriguing to revisit something Mirren had previously mentioned. In February 2025, she spoke to The Wall Street Journal for a profile on Ford. During the interview, she shared that while working on 1923 together, Ford told her that part of his performance was inspired by his history of plane crashes. Mirren explained that Ford could relate to his character because he had experienced what it was like to almost die.

“He’s been carried into the kitchen, dying and covered in blood, and later Harrison did say to me, ‘That was how I was after the accident.’ I think, maybe, going through that experience just gave him a very different understanding of what it is to be a sentient human being.”

The Often-Forgotten History of Harrison Ford’s Plane Crashes and Incidents

Harrison Ford has made a significant impact on pop culture through his roles in movies like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Blade Runner. However, despite his fame, many people tend to forget about his history of involvement in plane crashes and aviation incidents. A February 2024 article from Simply Flying highlights the fact that Ford has been part of several plane crashes, a helicopter crash, and other aviation incidents.

A Timeline of Ford’s Aviation Incidents

Here is a list of some of the notable aviation incidents involving Harrison Ford:

• Helicopter Crash Landing Near Los Angeles, California – 1999
• Runway Overshoot in Lincoln, Nebraska – 2000
• Penmar Golf Course Crash in Southern California – 2015
• Mistaken Taxiway Landing – 2017
• Wrongful Runway Crossing – 2020

Among these incidents, the most severe appears to be the 2015 crash. An October 2015 article from Entertainment Tonight quoted Ford discussing the seriousness of the event on Jimmy Kimmel Live! He revealed that the aftermath of the crash was so severe that he had no memories from several days.

"I remember the engine stopping, I remember that part very well," he said. "I remember telling the tower what I was going to do, and I remember their suggestion. Their suggestion was that I take the normal route to land, and I knew that I wasn’t going to do that. So I said ‘no.’ And that’s the last thing I remember until five days afterwards. I’m told by the doctors that the amount of general anesthetic that I received…gave me retrograde amnesia."