VIDEO: Doctor describes pulling Harrison Ford out of wrecked plane

VENICE, Calif. -- A doctor who helped pull Harrison Ford from the plane crash wreckage is speaking out for the first time about the incident.

Dr. Sanjay Khurana was at the right place at the right time. The Santa Monica-based spine surgeon said he was on the seventh green when he saw Ford's plane coming in, clip a tree, and then drop on its belly on the eight fairway at Penmar Golf Course in Venice on Thursday.

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"First time on the scene of a plane crash, that's for sure," Khurana said. He said his instincts took over. When he got to the wrecked airplane, he said the pilot, who he didn't realize was Ford at the time, was moving, but he felt they had to move quickly.

"The fuel was the main concern with the individual inside the airplane. I knew he was hurt, obviously, but the fuel kind of made it kind of more urgent," Khurana said.

Khurana said he and others threw dirt onto the leaking fuel. They moved Ford away from the plane before paramedics arrived on scene because they were concerned the plane may catch fire.

"He wasn't really looking up. He was kind of trapped in this submerged cockpit. So I checked on him, he made some responses, as I recall. I stabilized his neck, which is a common area of injury, and with the help with a lot of great people, we were able to get him safely out of the airplane," Khurana said.

He said once paramedics arrived, he stepped back and wished the actor well.

"It was a bizarre day. You don't go golfing expecting to see an airplane crash and to help extract someone and realize it's someone you know from the movies," Khurana said.

Ford, 72, was transported to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in fair to moderate condition. The only injuries confirmed by hospital officials are cuts and bruises.

In a statement, Ford's publicist said the actor's injuries are non life-threatening, and he is expected to make a full recovery.

The actor, known for "Blade Runner" and the "Indiana Jones" franchise, was cast to reprise his role as Han Solo in the new "Star Wars" trilogy, slated for release in December. He is known as an aviation enthusiast.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident.

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The Associated Press and ABC News contributed to this report.