Harrison Ford at Star Wars Comic-Con
SAN DIEGO, CA - JULY 10: Actor Harrison Ford walks onstage at the Lucasfilm panel during Comic-Con International 2015 at the San Diego Convention Center on July 10, 2015 in San Diego, California. Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Harrison Ford drew a standing ovation at this year's Comic-Con as he makes his first appearance since crashing his plane in March.

The actor, who spent weeks recovering from a broken ankle and pelvis after his plane crash this spring, fought back tears as he expressed his gratitude for the series.

The 72-year-old actor assured fans that he felt "just fine," even though his injuries included breaking a leg in an unrelated, on-set accident that delayed production of The Force Awakens.

"The original Star Wars was the beginning of my working life... I was very happy to be a part of the story and the cast again," he said about returning to the role of Han Solo after more than 30 years.

"It was an emotional rounding of the experience of the first three films. ... I never thought it would come back. I never thought we'd do another one."

He was joined on stage by original Star Wars trilogy cast members, Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) and Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), director JJ Abrams, Lucas film President Kathleen Kennedy, and the film's co-writer Lawrence Kasdan.

Some 6,500 Star Wars fans, who queued outside the convention to secure a spot, camped outside to watch the behind the scenes video on the making of the latest Star Wars film "The Force Awakens."

This is the first time Star Wars has appeared at Comic-Con in a decade. Fisher described the return of the sci-fi saga as an" acid flashback."

The panel discussion and film preview was followed by a surprise concert at the nearby marina for an outdoor concert of John Williams' music.

Fans waved light sabers in the air, proving The Force is still with fans 40 years since the first movie's release.

Actors Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac and Gwendoline Christie also join the cast for the next instalment in the Star Wars series.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is due for release 18 December 2015.

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