Korean Air chief’s daughter says sorry for nuts incident
Heather Cho, the daughter of Korean Air chairman, has apologised for delaying a plane over a row about the way nuts were served.
Ms Cho, who was an executive at the airline but resigned earlier this week, bowed in apology when she spoke to reporters outside a government building.
"I sincerely apologise," she said in a quiet voice that could hardly be heard, adding that she planned to say sorry personally to affected crew members.
Earlier, her father Cho Yang-ho had called a press conference where he apologised ‘as a father and head of Korean Air’.
"I beg the people to blame me for the current situation, because everything is my fault… I failed to properly educate my daughter," he said.
Ms Cho was on a flight from New York to Incheon in South Korea on December 5 when she was served macadamia nuts bagged, rather than on a plate.
She allegedly lost her temper and insisted the aircraft, which was already taxiing for take-off, returned to the gate so a senior crew member could be removed.
The flight, with 250 passengers on board, was delayed for 11 minutes and there has since been public criticism of her behaviour, leading to South Korea’s transport ministry to carry out an investigation.
The incident has dominated headlines and has caused a major backlash in South Korea.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season