Seoul: Cho Hyunah, Korean Air vice-president in charge of in-flight experience, was on the runway at John F. Kennedy airport in New York City on a flight headed to Incheon, South Korea, when a junior flight attendant served Cho bagged macadamia nuts in first class.
But it turns out that first-class etiquette demands that macadamia nuts be served on a plate, not in a bag.
So Cho, who is also daughter of the airline’s chairman, called over the head flight attendant. However, when the attendant failed to get out the proper manual for flight service, Cho shouted, France24 reported.
She then had the flight return to the gate and ordered him off the plane.
Flight KE086 departed the airport in New York 20 minutes late, arriving at Incheon about 11 minutes late.
Korean Air Lines apologised on Monday for inconveniencing passengers due to the debacle over bagged nuts. Although the company said it was ‘natural’ for Cho to fault crew’s ignorance of procedures, the airline said on Tuesday that Cho is resigning.
South Korea’s government said it is investigating whether Cho violated aviation safety law.
“If the investigation finds any violations, the necessary action will be taken against the air carrier,” an official from the Transportation Ministry said. Cho did not have the authority to return the plane to the gate because she was a passenger, The Korea Times reported.
“We must review related laws as this incident is unprecedented,” the official told reporters.
