Lindsay Lohan misses flight for tonight's Vienna opera ball

Lindsay Lohan won't attend the famous Vienna opera ball tonight (11.02.10) because she missed her flight to Europe.

The 'Mean Girls' actress had been invited to the annual event by rich businessman Richard Lugner but failed to board her flight from Los Angeles to London because she was shopping in duty free.

Lugner claims the British Airways aircraft had waited for the 23-year-old star – who was then due to get a connecting flight to Vienna – but when she boarded she was asked to leave because she couldn't afford the $22,000 the carrier charged for the two-hour delay.

Lugner, 77, said: "She wanted to pay it, but her card's credit limit was not high enough."

Lugner is famous for his high-profile guests and has previously invited blonde bombshells Pamela Anderson and Paris Hilton to the event. He is now believed to have invited male German singer, producer and entertainer Dieter Bohlen to be his date instead.

The first ball was held in the Vienna State Opera in 1877, and the event continues to draw business magnates, politicians and artists.

Glamour model Katie Price is also attending the event.