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Dieting Australian PM makes cabin crew cry
Frank Thorne In Sydney3 Apr 2009
AUSTRALIA'S prime minister Kevin Rudd today apologised for reducing a woman flight attendant to tears over an in-flight meal.
His outburst came on a flight from Papua New Guinea when he was told his special meal request could not be met.
Mr Rudd, who is on a meat-free diet, said he had a "discussion" with the 23-year-old attendant on the Royal Australian Air Force's aircraft in January - after an official report detailing his behaviour had been filed by the VIP fleet commander.
"If anyone took offence of course I apologise," Mr Rudd told reporters in London, where he is attending the G20 summit. He added: "All of us are human. We make mistakes. This would be one of them."
Reader views (15)
To ridiculous post from Paul in Vancouver. Please - were you there? Did you see what happened? Did you see how he reacted? He might have firmly said he was disappointed and some silly flight attandent just started to cry....big WHOOO HOOO for nothing. Unless there is a tape, we all should just refrain from judging. He apologized, obviously not aware she was "SHAKEN", he is a nice guy, unlike his predecessor, who I have seen in person throwing the biggest fits over meal choices/staff attire etc. Stop judging unless you know what you are judging.
- Dave, Los Angeles, CA, 22/04/2009 06:40
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If this had been anyone other than the PM it would have resulted in arrest for assaulting the FA. He should have been shackled immediateley. Any other adult could have gone without the meal. I mean seriously what kind of an idiot goes ballistic on a flight attendant anyway?
- Paul, Vancouver Canada, 06/04/2009 01:30
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Get over it. He apologized. let me see the rest of you juggle the tasks he has to. This Chick needs to toughen up. If he groped her, force her to perform a sexual act then i would care. I have worked in various levels of Customer service and Management and i have seen my share of stuff. He is doing a great job so far. Let that be the judge. I am sure the Liberals have something to do with this !!!
- Mark C, marrickville, nsw australia, 04/04/2009 11:29
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People are responsible for their own emotions. Did the PM really "make" the flight attendant cry? I've said very, very small things to people that have resulted in them crying. Imagine if those very, very small things were coming from the PM? Storm in a tea cup. So what!
- Peter Hinton, Australia, 04/04/2009 10:45
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Her son does, apparently!
- The Commodore, Sydney, Australia, 04/04/2009 09:44
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OK, firstly could there be a more mundane issue to report on. Secondly, that's RAAF crew and they're crying because someone got angry and what, maybe even yelled? I think some crew need to harden up a notch...
- Rob Edwards, Sydney, AUS, 04/04/2009 05:54
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I thought politicians were to be diplomatic in their dealings whether in internal or external situations, obviously the aura of being on a government jet paid by the taxpayers (including the f/a) made him feel he was better than all of us blue collar workers! Politicians should be made to use commercial flights during these hard economic times...ya right!!
- Ken W, Kamloops BC Canada, 04/04/2009 04:07
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"If anyone took offence of course I apologise,"
Only a classless douche makes an apology like that and tries to make the offense the other person's fault.
- Ignatts Crabnaski, Trenton, USA, 04/04/2009 00:38
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It seems Georgie of Islington is a confident of Kevin Rudd. It seems he knows the movements and character of Kevin Rudd in detail. Living in Islington it must be that Kevin telephones Georgie boy from afar to compare notes on Airline travel. Wish I had your personal contacts Georgie, and I,m sure the Airline staff will be delghted to know when you are next on board and give you some extra attention like pour the soup over your rather self important head
- Peter French, Orihuela Costa Spain, 03/04/2009 16:54
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Mr. Rudd is a very good and frequent traveller - client! He should receive service and if the staff is lazy or bad they should be moved to other less-demanding positions. I am tired of being mal-treated onboard myself by people who think they are super-potent, just because they can decide if you fly or not, after you paid so much money!! In the long term service always comes first.
- Georgie, Islington, London, 03/04/2009 15:12
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What a plonker! Not exactly an advert for bonzer aussies. Vote him out and elect Dame Edna. Now there's a diplomat. And I gather she likes meat too.
- Haskey, London SE1, 03/04/2009 15:00
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This sounds odd though? When still flying "normal" airlines, I always got what I ordered. Now I fly ryanair, and even they have veggie sandwiches.
If he ordered veggie meals in advance, I can't see why they didn't arrange it for him?
- Juma, london, uk, 03/04/2009 12:41
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Presumably he ordered chips.
- Eduardo, N London, 03/04/2009 12:02
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Rudd's known for his rudeness. It's his hallmark.
- Phil Jones, London UK, 03/04/2009 10:47
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"If anyone took offense ...." This is a typical politician's apology, suggesting that the other person or people are in the wrong. You never get an unqualified apology from a politician these days.
- Paul, London, 03/04/2009 10:03
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