Harrison Ford Back Flying for 1st Time Since Crash

— -- Harrison Ford is back in the air for the first time since his March plane crash.

The "Star Wars" icon was photographed Thursday heading to Santa Monica Airport in California looking mostly healed from his crash about three months ago. Photos then show the actor, 72, taking off in his green helicopter, co-piloting the aircraft.

"He seemed fine," an onlooker told ABC News, adding he used a golf cart to get to and from the aircraft, something he normally might not do. "He was walking a little steady, taking it easy."

Ford was all smiles heading back to the airport and was welcomed back like family at a space where he spends so much time. He spent about 30 minutes in the air.

"The two or three people he interacted with seemed excited to have him back," the onlooker added.

Ford was injured in March when his World War II-era, single-engine plane he was piloting crashed on a golf course near Santa Monica, California. The actor made a textbook emergency landing at Penmar Golf Course after the engine of the Ryan ST3KR plane he was flying failed, said NTSB and Los Angeles fire officials. He was taken to a nearby hospital in "fair to moderate" condition, said Patrick Butler of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Ford was "banged up" and receiving medical care, said his publicist, Ina Treciokas, who described the actor's injuries as non-life threatening.

An avid pilot, Ford told ABC's Barbara Walters in 2008 that he "loved the freedom of flight."

"I love the places you go," he said. "I love the people in aviation, the people that I meet in aviation. I love seeing the world from an airplane. I'm in love with flying."