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Kevin Rudd - Source: Reuters -
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Kevin Rudd apologised to a flight attendant on a Royal Australian Air Force VIP flight earlier this year after she was subjected to an angry outburst from the prime minister over not being served the meal he wanted.
The incident occurred on a flight from Port Moresby to Australia in January and News Limited newspapers report that the 23-year-old RAAF flight attendant was reduced to tears over Rudd's anger.
But Rudd downplayed the incident when he was asked about it at the conclusion of the G20 summit in the British capital on Thursday, saying he did not "observe" any tears over the matter.
"As I recall it, there was a flight, I think from Port Moresby, and I had a discussion with, I think, one of the attendants on the provision of food. It didn't last very long and if anyone was offended by that, including the attendant concerned, of course, I apologise," Rudd said during a news conference.
Rudd said that as he recalled, he told a member of the crew not to worry about the language he had used.
"I said to the member of staff not to worry about it," Rudd said.
"As I said, if anyone took offence, of course, I apologise for it. Prime minister's make mistakes, I'm sure I've made mistakes, that'd be one of them. If people have been offended I apologise for it."
Rudd is well known for his extreme work ethic and rumours abound of accounts involving staff who have been on the receiving end of the prime minister's sharp temper.
Asked if he had a bad temper, Mr Rudd said he was as human as the next person and made mistakes.
"All of us are human; I'm human, I'm not perfect," Rudd said.
"As I said before, if I upset anybody on that particular flight I'm really sorry. I apologise for it and, as I said at the time to one of the staff on the plane, that's it.
"We're all human, we all make mistakes, your prime minister included."
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