Whoosh - Airline Boss Crashes and Burns

If there was an Arrogant Tosser of the Month Award the only surefire winner for January 2008 would be airline boss Aden Murcutt. In a textbook case of how not to handle a media crisis Murcutt, chief exec of FlyWhoosh, crashlands in today's Daily Record with a jet engine sized blast at disgruntled customer Liam Sturrock.
Sturrock's "crime" was to track down Murcutt and demand a refund for his parents who were stranded when the airline suspended flights from Dundee Airport.
Veteran Dundee-based Record reporter, Brian McCartney, must have been chortling over his laptop as he noted down the quotes from lost-the-plot Murcutt as he responded to trainee teacher Liam's demand for compensation.
Murcutt said: "Liam Sturrock was getting out of his tree for a sum of money that wouldn't even buy you a decent dinner and a night out. I'm not going to be lectured by someone whose potential earnings will amount to little more than three farthings to buy a Ford Fiesta."
I'm always on the lookout for new PR business and part of my pitch is that as an ex-tabloid hack, if a client is caught in the eye of a media storm I know how to deal with most crisis situations. But rescuing this guy would even be beyond me.
For a full jaw-dropping account of how not to deal with the public or indeed with the media read the Record's story here. And if you are still in any doubt that Murcutt is an A-list plank, have a look at this picture.