Korean Air’s ‘nut rage’ trial begins
The former Korean Air executive at the centre of the ‘nut rage’ incident on the tarmac at New York’s JFK Airport has appeared in court in Seoul and pleaded not guilty to violating aviation security law.
Cho Hyun-ah, the daughter of the airline’s chairman could face 15 years in prison if found guilty.
Cho, also known as Heather, caused outrage after ordering a Korean Air flight back to the gate at JFK and kicking a senior crew member off the flight.
The tantrum was sparked after she was served macadamia nuts in a bag, instead of on a dish.
Cho was the airline’s head of cabin service at the time of the incident.
The most serious charge facing Cho is of forcing a flight to change its route which has a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.
She is also facing charges of using violence against flight crew, hindering a government probe and forcing the flight’s purser off the plane.
Opening statements from her defence team said the charges were based on ‘exaggerated statements’ and that the safety violations were minor as the plane had moved just a few metres from the gate and had not yet reached the runway.
Cho has been in custody since being formally arrested three weeks ago.
She appeared alongside a KAL company executive, who was charged with tampering with evidence and an official from the transport ministry who is accused of leaking details of a government investigation into the incident.
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