Russell Crowe and his sons had a flight booked on Virgin Australia, but when the actor found out the boys’ hoverboards would not be allowed on the plane he took to Twitter to blast the airline over its no-hoverboard policy.
While the self-balancing skateboard-like devices are becoming wildly popular with kids, safety concerns have emerged after several hoverboards spontaneously burst into flame, possibly due to the lithium batteries that power them.
Related: Ryan Gosling Crashes Russell Crowe’s Awards Show Presentation
Crowe vented his spleen on Twitter, excoriating the airline for telling him the hoverboards weren’t allowed on the plane when he and his sons checked in for their flight.
Ridiculous @VirginAustralia. No Segway boards as luggage? Too late to tell us at airport.Kids and I offloaded. Goodbye Virgin. Never again.
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) December 29, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
.@VirginAustralia I’m awaiting your reply, where is your duty of responsibility in this? Why not tell me when I am booking my ticket? — Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) December 29, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
.@joelcreasey @VirginAustralia I’m a father Joel, with two kids at an airport , trying to start our holiday.
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) December 29, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js The airline responded via Twitter, attempting to explain the reasoning behind its hoverboard ban.
@russellcrowe Hi Russell, due to safety concerns over the lithium ion batteries in hoverboards, these have been banned on all major… 1/3 — Virgin Australia (@VirginAustralia) December 29, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
@russellcrowe …Australian airlines and many around the world. We’re sorry you were not aware of this prior to check-in today. We… 2/3
— Virgin Australia (@VirginAustralia) December 29, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
@russellcrowe …hope to see you on board again soon. 3/3 — Virgin Australia (@VirginAustralia) December 29, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Addressing the actor’s questions as to why he wasn’t told about the no-hoverboards policy, the airline tweeted that he actually had been informed — albeit in the fine print of his booking confirmation.
@russellcrowe Hi Russell, this information is outlined in the Dangerous Goods section in the booking confirmation and check in… 1/4
— Virgin Australia (@VirginAustralia) December 29, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
@russellcrowe …reminder emails you will have received. We have also communicated this on Facebook and Twitter, as well as… 2/4 — Virgin Australia (@VirginAustralia) December 29, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
@russellcrowe …through the media. We understand your frustration, however please appreciate that safety is our number one… 3/4
— Virgin Australia (@VirginAustralia) December 29, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
@russellcrowe …priority. 4/4 — Virgin Australia (@VirginAustralia) December 29, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Crowe, who has had some issues with his temper in the past (who can forget his 2005 arrest for angrily throwing a telephone at Manhattan hotel clerk?), didn’t receive a lot of sympathy in the Twitterverse:’
Russell Crowe upset about being treated like the rest of us? If he listens really hard, he’ll hear that familiar sound of nobody caring.
— Baxters (@baxters) December 29, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
@russellcrowe @VirginAustralia It’s there in black and white old chap. No lithium batteries. You are in the wrong.
— Crispin (@SirMustard) December 29, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
@VirginAustralia @russellcrowe thanks Virgin for putting our safety ahead of a spoilt brat’s tantrum.
— RAdelaide Rob (@Rob__247) December 29, 2015
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
