Branson ticked off for “wing-walking" stunt

Sir Richard Branson has once again stirred up some controversy – this time by walking out on to the wing of an aircraft, clutching a surfboard. For while the Airbus jet was not flying at the time, it was still deemed dangerous by authorities at Sydney airport, who ordered the entrepreneur to get back inside the plane. The Guardian reports that the stunt took place following the inaugural Virgin flight to Australia last week, when Branson, “accompanied by a group of swimwear models waving a Union flag and an Australian national flag” climbed on to the wing. Watching officials were reportedly unimpressed by the stunt and have since demanded assurances that representatives of the carrier will behave better in future. A spokeswoman for the airport is quoted as saying: “We had engaged in a long series of discussions and we thought we had come to an agreement over the event. Then something different happened.” Virgin reportedly “brushed aside” the concern, adding: “We entirely followed the spirit of the agreement with the airport authority.” Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd