Korean Air ‘nut rage’ exec charged with violating aviation law

The former Korean Air Lines executive who achieved worldwide notoriety by kicking a crew member off a flight over a bag of nuts faces up to 15 years in prison after South Korean prosecutors filed four charges against her on Wednesday. Cho Hyun-ah, who is the daughter of the airline’s chairman, was charged with violating aviation security law and hindering a government investigation. Cho ordered a senior crewmember off a Dec. 5 flight after being offered macadamia nuts in a bag, instead of on a dish. The plane returned to the gate at John F. Kennedy to disembark the flight attendant.

[Her actions amounted to] threatening the safety of the flight and causing confusion in law and order.

Prosecutor Kim Chang-hee, during a briefing that was broadcast live by local television networks

The three other charges she faces are the use of violence against flight crew, hindering a government probe and forcing the flight’s purser off the plane. She could face up to 15 years in prison if found guilty of all four charges, according to Attorney Park Jin Nyoung, spokesman for the Korean Bar Association. Prosecutors accused her of forcing a flight to change its normal route, which Park said was the most serious charge with a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.

Korean Air Business