Scared film stars 'just gutless', says BA chief

British Airways boss Rod Eddington has branded Hollywood film stars who refuse to fly because of the September 11 terror attacks ‘‘gutless cowards’’, it was reported today.

Speaking on Concorde’s comeback flight to New York, the BA chief executive said he was ‘‘disgusted’’ that celebrities were refusing to take to the skies, adding they were setting a bad example to the travelling public.

Mr Eddington said he thought the behaviour of Hollywood stars was ‘‘quite pathetic’’.

Referring to action movie hero Bruce Willis, Mr Eddington said: ‘‘This is a guy who makes movies like Die Hard in which he’s always the hero who races into skyscrapers saving the world.

‘‘But in real life he’s too scared to fly in a plane. Not much of a daredevil really, is he?

‘‘People like him should be out there setting an example to people. Willis and his acting colleagues are powerful role models.

‘‘They want everyone to see their movies and think how big and brave and heroic they are.

‘‘But the first sign of trouble and they cower under their beds like gutless cowards. It’s pathetic.’’

Describing the downturn in the aviation industry as a ‘‘nightmare’’, Mr Eddington said New Yorkers had made a much bigger effort to take to the skies compared with the stars of Los Angeles.

‘‘The Los Angeles set have just retired to their mansions,’’ he said.

‘‘It angers me that they make all these big blockbuster movies down there with all these heroes.

‘‘But away from the screens they behave in exactly the opposite way. Actually I find it quite pathetic.’’

He said he hoped terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden had seen Concorde’s return to the skies, adding: ‘‘We can’t let these people dictate how we live.

‘‘That is why celebrities should get back on planes and set an example to everyone else.’’