David Hill, the Downing Street director of communications, has been forced on the defensive over an off-the-cuff remark about the collapse of part of Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport last weekend.

In a briefing to Whitehall press officers on Monday, Hill said the event could "draw attention to the inadequacies of the French transport infrastructure".

The prime minister's official spokesman said: "David explained in his statement that it was a flippant comment, and that's where it's left."

He added: "As David said, as anyone who knows him will recognise, the last thing David would want is to cause offence to anyone."