Depardieu0230.jpgFrench actor Gerard Depardieu has apologized for his embarrassing "incident" that had him removed from an Air France flight to Dublin this week.

The 62-year-old actor began urinating into a plastic bottle in front of fellow passengers after the staff denied him permission to use the lavatory before take off.

But Depardieu's friend says it was all due to "prostate problems". Fellow actor Edouard Baer, who was traveling with him, confessed in a statement issued on Depardieu's behalf to French media:

    "Gerard was upset at this and offered to clean up the mess. He has prostate problems and it was very worrying and humiliating for him. He was also stone-cold sober at the time. This is not the way he usually behaves."


Following the incident, the aircraft taxied back to the terminal at Charles de Gaulle airport and Depardieu was removed from the flight.

Cityjet confirmed the plane had been delayed and it took off later than scheduled, and said in a statement: "Flight AF5010, which was due to depart at 1845 from Paris to Dublin, was delayed due to an incident on board involving a passenger who refused to remain in his seat as the aircraft was taxiing on the runway. The captain returned the aircraft to stand where the passenger was offloaded."

Depardieu was able to catch a later flight to Dublin after being banned from his first flight following the incident.