British Airways claimed today that CEO Rod Eddington was quoted
“out of context” in an article appearing in the London Daily
Mirror in which he reportedly called Hollywood stars “gutless
cowards” for refusing to board airplanes since Sept. 11th.
“It’s
pathetic,” he reportedly steamed. A spokesman for the airline said that
Eddington’s remarks were made during an informal conversation with the
editor of the Mirror, Piers Morgan, aboard the first British
Concorde flight since last year’s crash in Paris.
Eddington, the
Mirror had said, had particularly singled out Bruce Willis, who
had canceled an appearance at the London Film Festival following the
attacks. “This is the guy who makes movies in which he’s the hero saving
the world. But in real life he’s too scared to fly in a plane. …People like him should be setting an example … [as] role models,”
Eddington said.
The BA chief contrasted the attitude of film stars to
those of New Yorkers, who, he said, have made “a marked effort” to
resume flying. “But frankly the Los Angeles set have retired to their
mansions,” he said.
