Boozy orchestra strikes the wrong chord on flight

Members of Russia’s oldest symphony orchestra struck the wrong chord when they began drinking heavily on board a transatlantic flight and became so rowdy they were ordered off.

The 90 members of the St Petersburg Philharmonic were en route from Amsterdam to Los Angeles but made it no further than Washington when United Airlines threw them off the plane.

The musicians began talking loudly and bothering other passengers, airline officials said. After they refused to take their seats or follow crew members’ orders, they were escorted from the flight during a scheduled stop at Washington.

After spending a night in a Washington area hotel, they were allowed to board another flight to Los Angeles yesterday and were still expected to perform at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion tonight.

‘‘We outlined a conduct agreement that, while in flight, our crew is in charge,’’ said United spokeswoman Susana Leyva. ‘‘Our representative was very confident that they would observe all safety rules on board the flight.’’

Airline officials said the problems began after orchestra members broke out bottles of spirits they had carried on board with them.

They were in ‘‘much different spirits’’ when they returned to the airport yesterday, Leyva said.

The orchestra is to perform works by Prokofiev, Stravinsky and Shostakovich tonight at the start of a month long US tour.

Known for years as the Leningrad Philharmonic, the St Petersburg orchestra traces its roots to 1882. It last toured the United States in 1998.