Kevin Rudd has apologised to a RAAF cabin stewardess he reportedly reduced to tears on a flight from Port Moresby to Canberra in January.

Mr Rudd did not dispute he had "a discussion" with the stewardess because the meal he wanted was unavailable but he did not remember her being in tears.

"All of us are human, I'm human, I'm not perfect," he said.

"If I upset anybody on that particular flight, I'm sorry, I apologise for it.

"We all make mistakes, your Prime Minister included."

News Ltd reported that on a flight from Port Moresby to Canberra Mr Rudd shouted at a 23-year-old attendant because his request for a special meat-free meal could not be met.

The attendant burst into tears and reported the matter to the senior cabin attendant. She later composed herself and continued with the in-flight service.

Mr Rudd said yesterday he had sought to apologise to the flight attendant at the time.

"I said to the member of staff not to worry about it," he said.

An official incident report was filed by the flight crew.

The report, according to News Ltd, says the cabin crew were unaware of the Prime Minister's special meal request.

There was reportedly another incident in June last year when, during a flight between Sydney and Canberra, Mr Rud became "extremely irritated" when the only food on offer was gourmet sandwiches, rather than a hot meal.