Korean Air executive resigns over nut row
The daughter of Korean Air chairman Heather Cho has resigned from her position as executive vice president after forcing a plane to return to the gate following an argument over nuts.
Company officials said that her father Cho Yang-ho had accepted the resignation of his eldest daughter following the incident last week.
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.
Flight KE086, 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.
Ms Cho is facing up to 10 years in prison, said a report in the Daily Mail, if found guilty of violating Aviation Safety Law, which states passengers should not cause disturbances, including using violent language or shouting.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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