Australia PM "sorry" over inflight food flap

LONDON (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd found himself apologising for a flap over a missing inflight meal as he fielded questions from the global press on a $1.1-trillion (748 billion pound) rescue plan unveiled at the G20 summit.

While briefing reporters about steps taken by world leaders to combat the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, Rudd was asked about a press report that he had lost his temper with a flight attendant when told his meal request could not be met.

Australia's Daily Telegraph said on Thursday that Rudd reduced the 23-year-old woman to tears while on a flight in January from Papua New Guinea to Canberra.

Rudd, reportedly on a special weight-loss diet of non-red meat, acknowledged he "had a discussion" with a staff member on his VIP flight about "the provision of food" but said he did not see anyone on the plane cry.

"If anyone was offended by that, including the attendant concerned, of course, I apologise," Rudd, 51, said. "I said to the member of staff not to worry about it," he added.

"As I've said before...We're all human. We all make mistakes. Your prime minister makes mistakes," he said.

(Reporting by Sebastian Tong; Editing by Mark Bendeich)