Russell Crowe blasts airline

By Tribute News on December 29, 2015 | 8 Comments


Russell CroweRussell Crowe lashed out at an airline on Twitter, after they refused to let his son's hoverboards on board. The 51-year-old actor took to the social networking site to slam Virgin Australia after the airline informed him that the lithium ion batteries in the hoverboards pose a hazard during air transport and they could not be taken on board. Russell, who was preparing to fly from Sydney to Coffs Harbour in New South Wales, with his children Tennyson and Charles, fumed: ''Ridiculous. No Segway boards as luggage? Too late to tell us at airport. Kids and I offloaded. Goodbye Virgin. Never again.' Why did you not inform me when I booked my ticket? Where is your duty of responsibility in this? ''I'm awaiting your reply, where is your duty of responsibility in this? Why not tell me when I am booking my ticket?'' When actor and comedian Joel Creasey replied to Russell saying: ''You're a millionaire babe, get some perspective. Try Tiger. They don't even have real pilots,'' Russell shot back: ''I'm a father, Joel, with two kids at an airport trying to start our holiday.'' He then left the airport without boarding the plane. In a statement a Virgin spokesman said: ''Safety is our number one priority at Virgin Australia. Due to safety concerns, Virgin Australia, along with all major Australian airlines and many around the world, do not permit the carriage of lithium ion battery operated small recreational vehicles, such as self-balancing boards, hoverboards or aero wheels, as checked-in or carry-on baggage.''

Comments & Discussion

  1. Kris • December 29, 2015 @ 9:16 AM

    Geez…they’re a fire hazard….I don’t want them on board either!! T

  2. jerald • December 29, 2015 @ 10:09 AM

    i can’t stand him.

  3. Wanda • December 29, 2015 @ 11:39 AM

    You may be a celebrity but rules must be followed just like everyone else especially where
    the safety of other passengers is concerned…Get a grip Russell!

  4. Derek • December 29, 2015 @ 1:30 PM

    In the last few year Russell Crowe has started to exemplify the celebrity who things he’s special and above the common person. Such arrogance! And a great thing to be teaching his brats . . . er, I mean children. ‘Hey, kids. Your dad is Russell Crowe and so we should be treated differently than the lesser beings.” Time to develop a more mature attitude and approach to life, Mr. Crowe. The world doesn’t owe you a damned thing.

  5. Anne • December 29, 2015 @ 4:54 PM

    Whether or not he is a celebrity, Mr. Crowe is entitled to his opinion and to ask the airline a good question, namely, “where is the airline’s responsibility in this?” How was Mr. Crowe to know about the restriction on lithium ion batteries on Virgin or any other airline. This is this first time I have heard of the restriction – Thanks to Mr. Crowe’s tweet, I learned about the restriction now – before being in the situation Mr. Crowe was in – ready to board with his children at the beginning of his vacation. Airlines need to post restrictions re: baggage on their web sites and have ticket agents tell passengers what those restrictions are before the ticket is purchased. Thanks Russell

  6. Reason • December 29, 2015 @ 8:21 PM

    http://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/plan/baggage/batteries/

    Gee Anne. 30 second Google search revealed the policy. They even have a list of other dangerous goods on their website. Every airline has this stuff on their websites BTW.

    As far as ticket agents telling passengers before they purchase, most people don’t use ticket agents. Most people book online either with the airline directly or with 3rd party like Expedia.

    It is the airlines responsibility to make the information available but its the travelers responsibility to make an effort to educate themselves.

  7. Jim • December 29, 2015 @ 8:38 PM

    To Anne: How do you know the airlines have not posted these restrictions and Mr. Crowe did not avail himself of this information? It is called due diligence. I am a huge fan of Mr. Crowes body of work but it doesn’t mean I won’t call him on it when he is in error. He was angry but I am sure he understands upon reflection now that it was his safety and that of his children as much as the general public that is at risk because of these devices. They are truly potentially dangerous as you can see on youtube. The airline was right and Mr. Crowe knows it.

  8. margaret • December 31, 2015 @ 1:30 AM

    Remove the batteries and buy new ones at your destination. Surely you could afford this. Problem solved!


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