Harrison Ford was airlifted to hospital today after being crushed while filming Star Wars.

The actor, 71, slumped to the floor after being crushed by the hydraulic door of his legendary Star Wars spaceship, a source revealed.

Daredevil Ford was last night ­recovering in hospital with a suspected broken ankle.

As he was being treated movie bosses began ­hurriedly rescheduling shoots to take into account what could be a long absence for the veteran star.

The source said: “Harrison was hit by the door and looked in a bad way and was clutching his chest when he was on the stretcher.

“He is one of Hollywood’s biggest stars and no chances were being taken so he got into a helicopter and was taken away in a lot of pain. His foot was damaged too.

“The cast and crew were sent home for the day, even though it was 5pm and the beginning of a night shoot. Harrison’s injury and what happened is going to mean changes to the schedule and problems and issues that need to be solved.

“But the main thing at the moment is making sure Harrison is OK.”

Ford was crushed by the door as he began shooting scenes for Star Wars: Episode VII at Pinewood studios in Buckinghamshire.

Reports claimed the door belonged to the Millennium Falcon, the spaceship his character Han Solo flies in the original trilogy of the sci-fi movie.

He was assessed by medics on set before an air ambulance was called. Ford, who is married to actress Calista Flockhart, 49, was taken to the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford, which has a trauma unit with specialist fracture clinics.

It is ­understood he has no major chest injuries but is awaiting results of tests.

A Star Wars spokesman said: “Harrison Ford sustained an ankle injury during filming today on the set of Star Wars: Episode VII.

"He was taken to a local hospital and is receiving care.”

It was tonight unclear how long the actor, who also played Indiana Jones, will be out of action.

(Image: Getty)

The Health And Safety Executive has launched an investigation into the incident.

A spokesman said : “We have been made aware of an incident at ­Pinewood studios and are making initial enquiries.”

All doors and other props on the Stars Wars set will be checked for safety after the accident.

Ford, who was snapped strolling in a supermarket with a drink before the incident, could be entitled to claim money on the film’s insurance if the door was found to be faulty.

The movie began filming in mid-May.

It is the first Star Wars title released by Disney, after creator George Lucas sold the rights to the franchise to the movie giant in 2012.

(Image: Moviestore)

The three principal characters from the original trilogy – Luke Skywalker, played by Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia and Han Solo – again feature.

Ford has been lined up for more stunts with talks of a fifth Indiana Jones movie, although critics say he is now too old for the character.

But in an interview last year, he insisted: “I don’t think there is any barrier to Indiana Jones being an old f**t.”

Ford’s career began with a school play and then in local theatre productions before he moved to Los Angeles in the early 1960s.

He returned to the trade in 1973 in Lucas’s American ­Graffiti.

The former carpenter made his ­breakthrough in the original Star Wars movie and the sequels Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

Accidents on film sets remain an occupational hazard. Actor Brandon Lee died in 1993 at the age of 28 after a gun meant to fire blanks was loaded with a real bullet still in the chamber as he filmed The Crow.

Brad Pitt injured his heel playing Achilles in the 2004 version of Troy. And acrobatic pilot Art Scholl, 53, died in a 1985 plane crash while filming Top Gun, starring Tom Cruise.

Keep up with all the live updates following the star's accident here.