In Brief: ‘Nutgate’ Trial Concludes, Chairman’s Daughter Found Guilty of Violating Aviation Safety Law

Cho Hyun-ah — former Korean Air executive and daughter of the airline’s chairman — was sentenced to one year in jail by a Seoul court on Thursday for violating aviation safety law. Cho, 40, sparked a conflict in first class when crew members served her macadamia nuts in a bag rather than in a bowl shortly after the aircraft pulled away from its gate at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on December 5.

Cho forced the Seoul-bound flight to return to JFK in what has come to be known as the “nut rage” or “nutgate” incident. The court handling the case ruled Cho, who once served as the airline’s head of cabin service, was guilty of distracting the captain, assaulting a crew member, forcing a crew member to leave the aircraft and causing the Korean Air flight to alter its planned route.

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