A former senior airline executive faces a possible prison sentence after she forced a Korean Air flight from New York to return to the gate when served nuts in a bag rather than on a plate.
Cho Hyun-ah, who was the airline’s senior vice president at the time, allegedly threw a tantrum and ordered the pilot to return to the gate in order to remove the member of the cabin crew, causing the flight to be delayed by 11 minutes.
Ms Cho, the daughter Korean Air chairman Cho Yang-ho – who is also known as ‘Heather’ – was later charged in Seoul with violation of aviation safety regulations following an investigation by South Korea’s transport ministry.
If found guilty, she could be handed a prison sentence of between 12 months and 15 years.
Ms Cho was detained as a ‘flight risk’ following the incident, which happened shortly before the flight to Incheon in South Korea was due to take off. She has since resigned and apologised for her behaviour.
