South Korean woman guilty in ‘nut rage’ case

A SOUTH Korean court finds a former executive of national airline Korean Air guilty of breaking aviation law over the “nut rage” case.

Heather Cho was accused of forcing the plane to turn back to the gate and offload a steward because she did not like the way she had been served nuts.

The violation can carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Prosecutors have asked for three years.

The case has sparked huge interest in South Korea.

Cho, who was a vice-president with the airline, was found guilty of obstructing aviation safety.

She had ordered her Seoul-bound plane taxiing at New York’s JFK Airport to return to the gate and offload the chief steward on 5 December.

Witnesses say she became angry after being served macadamia nuts in a bag and not in a bowl.

Cho was also charged with assault and interfering in an investigation.