Jeremy Clarkson claims he was 'barred from flight' in Falklands row
Jeremy Clarkson claims he was deliberately prevented from boarding a flight by an Argentinian worker in a row over the Falklands.
The ex-Top Gear star said he and his team were barred from getting on a BA flight to Heathrow from Stuttgart by a man working on the departure gate.
Clarkson, 56, claimed that Manuel Pereira told him: "I'm from Argentina, so f*** you".
Speaking to The Sun, Clarkson said co-star Richard Hammond overheard the comment and that Mr Pereira allegedly said they were too drunk to board the aircraft.
Clarkson, Hammond and James May are currently filming their new Amazon show, The Grand Tour.
Car fanatic Clarkson stirred up a diplomatic row in 2014 when he, May and Hammond were forced to flee Argentina while filming a Christmas special.
They had been driving around the South American country in a Porsche with the registration number H982 FKL, which some locals suggested could refer to the Falklands conflict of 1982.
Clarkson, axed from Top Gear after hitting a producer, told the newspaper: "The police said it was a hate crime and he would be arrested. Yes, even the Germans were 100% on our side - for once".
Clarkson told the paper the team got an easyJet flight back to Gatwick, arriving in the UK before their original flight, which had subsequently been delayed.
Mr Pereira told The Sun he is Spanish and denied swearing, adding: "I would never say such a thing. I wasn't rude. I was polite and professional".
A spokesman for Stuttgart airport said Clarkson "missed several calls in the lounge" while other passengers had boarded.
He said the incident would be investigated with staff, adding that Mr Pereira is "Spanish, not Argentinian".
"Due to airline policy, after a certain time of absence the luggage will be removed from the aircraft and the missing passengers will be withdrawn from the passenger list", the spokesman said.
"From this point there is no chance for boarding, even if the passengers show up".
However, the spokesman added that the behaviour described did not "conform" to the airline's approach and that an investigation would commence.