MO Sydney - Russell Crowe launched a Twitter rant at Virgin Australia and cancelled his flight after being told he couldn’t bring his children’s new hoverboards on the plane because they were a fire risk. The actor attempted to board his flight from Sydney to Coffs Harbour with his two sons when he was told he could not bring the Segway scooters on board amid fears the batteries could explode. After directing a series of angry tweets towards the airline, the 51-year-old left the airport with his children without having checked in. Launching his tirade, the Gladiator star said: ‘Ridiculous. No Segway boards as luggage? Too late to tell us at airport. Kids and I offloaded. Goodbye Virgin. Never again.’ After being told that the rule had been adopted by airlines all over Australia following research, the actor complained that he wasn’t made aware before arriving for his flight.
‘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?’ he continued.
Twitter followers were quick to pick up on his complaints.
Among them was actor and comedian Joel Creasey who told him: ‘You’re a millionaire babe, get some perspective. Try Tiger. They don’t even have real pilots.’
Clearly unimpressed with the response, Russell retorted almost immediately: ‘I’m a father, Joel, with two kids at an airport trying to start our holiday.’
Virgin Australia today confirmed the actor chose in the end not to fly with the airline, taking his children out of the airport following the mix-up.
Hoverboards were banned by airlines across the country earlier this month following claims their lithium batteries could cause them to explode midair.