pm's mile-high meltdown

PM's mile-high meltdown

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd reduced a young female RAAF cabin attendant to tears with a tirade of abuse overhis missing "special" meal during a VIP flight.

Mr Rudd's bully-like behaviour appalled a number of senior government officials who witnessed the dressing down on the flight from Port Moresby to Canberra in late January.

The Advertiser can reveal that an official report was filed by the Commander of 84 Wing and the VIP fleet, Group Captain Peter Wood, detailing the behaviour of VIP Number 1(Mr Rudd).
The Prime Minister's tirade over an in-flight meal reduces a young woman to tears - Tell us what you think of such an outburst .

The Prime Minister, who had attended the Pacific Islands Forum, was told by the young woman his request for a "special" meal could not be met.

According to the report, cabin crew on board the taxpayer-funded Boeing 737 VIP aircraft from the RAAF's No. 34 Squadron were not even aware of the meal request.

Sources said Mr Rudd reacted "strongly" to the bad news and a heated exchange followed.

"The crew were distressed but later in-flight apologies were made by all," the report states.

The woman, understood to be just 23 years old, burst into tears and reported the matter to the senior cabin attendant. She later composed herself and continued in-flight service without incident.

Mr Rudd – whose approval ratings have soared to near record levels – was forced to apologise for his behaviour.

The incident occurred after the Prime Minister, Treasurer Wayne Swan and other senior officials boarded the jet in the PNG capital.

"Remedial action was taken to the satisfaction of cabin attendant 1," a government source said. It is understood that included a personal apology from Mr Rudd.

"Everyone was placated by that," the source said.

This is not the first incident involving Mr Rudd and RAAF cabin crew.

During a 25-minute flight between Sydney and Canberra last June, a source said the Prime Minister became "extremely irritated" when the only food on offer was fresh, gourmet sandwiches – rather than a hot meal.

In answer to written questions the Defence Department stated: "It is not appropriate for Defence to comment on the service provided by No. 34 Squadron on its aircraft."

The Prime Minister's chief spokesman, Lachlan Harris, initially tried to cover up the incident with a flat denial that it had even occurred.

Then, almost 24 hours after a response was requested, a spokesperson for Mr Rudd, who flew to London to attend the G20 meeting of world leaders from the U.S. on his RAAF VIP jet, said: "The Prime Minister travels on the special-purpose aircraft all of the time and is very happy with the outstanding level of service provided by the dedicated members of the 34 Squadron."

The Boeing 737 BBJ VIP jet costs more than $28,000 an hour to run and the first-class service offered to its passengers includes the best available food and drinks.

The Port Moresby to Canberra flight would have cost taxpayers about $150,000.

The flying visit to PNG included a "who's who" of senior public servants, who spent the return flight putting the finishing touches to the Government's $42 billion economic stimulus package.

Mr Rudd has been losing weight and is on a non-red meat and fruit-only dessert diet. In June last year, after consuming a dodgy pie at the footy, he admitted to not being a very careful eater.

"When someone hands me something I stick it in my mouth, so there's a problem with that," he said.

Air Force crew attendants are paid between $47,000 and $68,000 a year. They require a high degree of courtesy, discretion, flexibility, resourcefulness and the ability to work unsupervised.