Korean Air Lines heiress pleads not guilty to aviation violations in ‘nut rage’ trial

The former Korean Air executive famous for an inflight tantrum over macadamia nuts pleaded not guilty today to violating aviation safety law and three other charges.

Cho Hyun-ah, daughter of the airline’s chairman, achieved worldwide notoriety by kicking a senior crew member off the December 5 New York-Seoul flight after being offered macadamia nuts in a bag, instead of on a dish. At the time, Cho was vice-president and head of cabin service at the airline.

Prosecutors accused her of forcing a flight to change its route, which was the most serious charge with a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.

The three other charges Cho faces are the use of violence against flight crew, hindering a government probe and forcing the flight’s purser off the plane.

Lawyers for Cho in today’s trial did not dispute the major elements of the prosecutor’s account of events on December 5 when Cho’s behaviour resulted in a Korean Air jet returning to the gate. Instead, they are focusing on a technical rebuttal of the aviation law charge.